Authorities report 55 counterfeit bills passed around Cape this year

~ Cashiers are less likely

to pause for scrutiny during

high-volume shopping days.

Would you know if Abraham Lincoln was an impostor?

Cape Girardeau police have handled 55 counterfeit cash and 2 check cases since January. The frequency of counterfeit incidents is not up from last year, said Cape Girardeau Det. Brad Smith. It's just more likely to occur during high-volume shopping days, he said, since cashiers are less likely to pause for scrutiny.

Businesses need to know the warning signs of counterfeit cash and checks, especially during the holiday shopping season, police say. They also give advice for what to do when a fake bill is found.

When a counterfeit bill is discovered, put it in a plastic bag immediately.

"Because everyone is curious," Smith said. "They're going to want to feel it and fumble around with it and say 'I can't believe you took it. It looks like a kid did it!'"

In such cases, the fingerprints of suspects are smudged and prints from numerous other people accumulate.

Businesses should report all suspicious bills, Smith said, even if just one item is in question. If the bill is legitimate, it is returned to the business. Otherwise, the business is not reimbursed in counterfeit cases.

All cases are handed over to the Secret Service in St. Louis, which set up guidelines for detecting counterfeit money. Businesses should compare the suspected bill to other bills in the cash register to check for:

* The presence of a magnetic strip that says the bill's value.

* Whether the bill's color is greener, whiter or darker.

* Edges that are wavy, perforated or slanted.

* A variation in the width of border rather than uniform widths.

* Blurry, faded or choppy lines on the portrait and various icons.

* Varying spacing among letters.

* A number on the lower right corner that changes color from rust to green to black when tilted.

* Embedded blue and red fibers.

* The presence of a watermark.

In most cases, Smith said, the counterfeit bills are just scanned copies that did not capture the iridescent number, fine lines, clarity and watermark. The uneven borders should be an instant giveaway, he said.

The $20 bill is the most common counterfeited bill in Cape Girardeau, making up half the reports, Smith said, while $100 have slipped past closer inspection in about a fourth of the cases.

Smith suggested that businesses establish procedures when a customer tries to pass a counterfeit bill. Cashiers or managers could delay the customer by "accidentally" closing the drawer before they hand out change. Try to catch license plate numbers or the make and model of their vehicle.

Counterfeiting money is a federal offense that carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Counterfeiting checks is a state offense that incurs felony forgery charges.

jmetelski@semissourian.com