(NEWTON, Iowa) Police in Newton say a local businesses have been reporting counterfeit bills being used to purchase items.
The bills are in 10's, 20's, 50's, and 100-dollar bills.
Police are encouraging business owners to examine all bills they receive, $10 and higher. If you believe are given a phony bill, call the police.
Police are sharing some reminders from the Secret Service, about ways to detect counterfeit bills:
Hold a bill up to a light and look for a holograph of the face image on the bill. Both images should match. If the $100 bill has been bleached, the hologram will display an image of Abraham Lincoln, who appears on the $5 bills, instead of Benjamin Franklin.
Look at the bill through a light will also reveal a thin vertical strip containing text that spells out the bill’s denomination.
If you hold the new series bill (except the $5 note) and tilt it back and forth, observe the numeral in the lower right hand corner as its color shifts from green to black and back.
Hold the bill up to a light to view the watermark in a space to the right of the portrait. The watermark can be seen from both sides of the bill since it is not printed on the bill but is imbedded in the paper.
Hold he bill a light to view the security thread. You will see a thin imbedded strip running from top to bottom on the face of a banknote. In the $10 and $50 the security strip is located to the right of the portrait, and in the $5, $20 and $100, it is located just to the left of the portrait.
If the bill is held up to an ultraviolet light, the $5 bill glows blue; the $10 bill glows orange, the $20 bill glows green, the $50 bill glows yellow, and the $100 bill glows red – if they are authentic.
There are minute microprinting on the security threads: the $5 bill has “USA FIVE” written on the thread; the $10 bill has “USA TEN” written on the thread; the $20 bill has “USA TWENTY” written on the thread; the $50 bill has “USA 50” written on the thread; and the $100 bill has the words “USA 100” written on the security thread. Microprinting can be found around the portrait as well as on the security threads.
Very fine lines have been added behind the portrait and on the reverse side scene to make it harder to reproduce.
Compare the feel and texture of the paper with other bills you know are authentic.
If you believe you have received a counterfeit bill, the Newton Police Department advises you to do the following:
• Do not put yourself in danger.
• Do not return the bill to the passer.
• Delay the passer with some excuse, if possible.
• Observe the passer’s description – and their companions’ descriptions – and write down their vehicle license plate numbers if you can.
• Contact the Newton Police Department.
• Do not handle the counterfeit note. Place it inside a protective cover, a plastic bag, or envelope to protect it until you place it in the hands of a police officer.
Anyone with information about the counterfeits bills are encouraged to contact the Newton Police Department or Jasper County Crime Stoppers 641-792-8362