The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 32, August 12, 2007, Article 27

COUNTERFEITERS WASHING, REPRINTING HIGHER DENOMINATION NOTES

Counterfeiters in Louisiana are washing genuine notes and using
the paper to print higher-denomination fakes.

"The pen commonly used to identify counterfeit money isn't enough
to tell that $100 bills being passed in Central Louisiana are phony.
Bank tellers and store clerks need to look at other security
features built into every bill, police say.

"Counterfeiters have been removing the ink from $5 bills and printing
them as $100s, said Alexandria Police Sgt. Lee Leach, who is a
financial crimes detective. Because they use the paper from real
money, they will pass the pen test, he said.

"The pen's ink checks for chemicals embedded in currency. 'The pen
can only tell if the paper is authentic or not ... If the money has
been washed and you have a fake $100, it's no good and you're out
of money,' Leach said.

"Some businesses won't take any bill larger than a $20. But people
counterfeit $20s and $10s, too, Leach said.

'We have counterfeit detection on currency counters, and it's a
good idea for people to look to find Abraham Lincoln's face on a
$100 bill,' Abshire said. 'I was a teller before, and those fake
$100 bills look different. They are real good quality, but the
color is faded looking.'"

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  Wayne Homren, Editor

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