News : Counterfeit bill concerns continue in Vinton; locally-available pen can ID fakes

This locally-available pen can help detect counterfeit bills.

Continued reports of counterfeit bills being passed in Vinton-area stores have had merchants seeking out a special pen with which they can determine if a bill is real or not.

“We have taken a couple of calls where counterfeit bills have been discovered after the fact from the banks, so the counterfeit bills have filtered through to the general public through normal purchase transactions at the retail level,” says Vinton Police Chief Ted Paxton. “Retailers need to stay vigilant. The public needs to do the same thing and take the time to check their cash in their wallet and purses for counterfeit bills and if they find any to turn them into their local law enforcement agency. There had been several reports across the state just in this past week of counterfeit bills being discovered."

At the Monkeytown office supply store, a special pen designed to help determine if a bill is fake is available. Several merchants have already purchased one from the business.

“Please take the time to look at the money you receive” says the chief. “Compare a suspect note with a genuine note of the same denomination and series, paying attention to the quality of printing and paper characteristics. Look for differences, not similarities. If you receive several of the same denomination check to make sure that the serial numbers on the bills are not the same on all the bills and if you have a counterfeit detection pen use it but always double check and visually inspect the bill."

For more information on what to look for, visit the Secret Service web site at http://www.secretservice.gov/money_detect.shtml. Contact Monkeytown at 319-472-5957.