Counterfeit cash circulating in central Ohio

WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- There’s a new kind of cash making the rounds in central Ohio with one small detail: it’s fake.

“It’s called motion picture money,” says Jonathan Schuck, Resident Agent-in-Charge for the U.S. Secret Service in Columbus. “They order this online, trying to say it’s a novelty note, which is fine, but once you start passing it, it becomes counterfeit.”

Agent Schuck leads a Financial Crimes Task Force that includes federal, state, and local law enforcement. He says local police agencies are sending in “large volumes” of the fake bills, one of which showed up at a Columbus restaurant.

“We had a couple of recent cases of high school kids have gotten it and passing it out to classmates and buying tennis shoes at stores,” Schuck adds, describing how kids are making money off the counterfeits. “If they go buy a soda for $2, they get $98 dollars back.”

Westerville Police, one of many cities with a detective assigned to the task force, recently issued a warning about old-style counterfeit $100 bills making the rounds. The warning specifically identifies characteristics between old-style bills prior to 1990 and new bills with more advanced security features.

KNOW YOUR MONEY

“If someone receives an older bill, take a close look because they lack the security features of bills made after 1990,” said Detective Sgt. Charles Chandler. “We want people and businesses to be aware there is aggressive distribution of counterfeit old-style $100s in this area. If they receive an older bill, look for some of the tell-tale counterfeit features, such as missing symbols and lack of detail.”

Agent Schuck says since the start of 2017, the Secret Service recorded close to $296,000 of counterfeit cash passed through central Ohio stores and banks. That is more than half of the total amount of fake money collected in 2016, which Schuck says was close to $575,000. Schuck believes the driving force behind the surge in counterfeit is the opioid spike in central Ohio.

The average amount of counterfeit taken in by authorities is usually around $450,000.

Schuck showed CrimeTracker 10 six so-called “counterfeit plants,” which are typical small desktop copy machines counterfeiters use to make the fake bills.

The U.S. Secret Service says when it comes to the fake $100s, they will not have the security thread or micro-printing around Franklin's portrait (thread should be visible only when held up to light). Most these notes have been manufactured by bleaching genuine one-dollar notes and digitally printing counterfeit $100 images.

Investigators also say micro-printing and color-shifting ink are two enhancements the U.S. Treasury introduced with the larger presidential portrait on newer bills.

“If you ever have any doubt, take out a real one and compare them,” explains Schuck. “You can see the texture right away, hold it up to a light.”

Schuck says fake bills knowns as “Chinese notes” with Chinese characters stamped on both sides of the bill are also getting passed easily at local flea markets and restaurants. He also cautions people who buy or sell personal items through online sites like Craigslist, EBay, or Facebook.

“You get stuck with this money, the bank or anyone else won’t reimburse you for itm, you lose the money,” Schuck says.

Westerville police say they have surveillance of a man suspected of recently passing the fake $100s bills. If you recognize him, call Westerville Police at 614-882-7444 with a tip.