The Maine State Police is alerting businesses and consumers to an increase in counterfeit U.S. currency reported in recent weeks.
Most incidents involve business deposits, but anyone handling cash should remain vigilant.
Reports have come in from Bangor to Van Buren.
While recent incidents have involved $100 and $20 bills, officials say that it’s important to remember that all denominations of bills should be carefully inspected before being accepted or deposited.
Many of the counterfeit bills identified include:
- $100 bills marked “For Motion Picture Purposes”
- $20 bills marked “Copy”
These markings can be easily missed during busy transactions, so careful inspection is important.
Tips to protect yourself:
- Inspect all cash before accepting or depositing it
- Train employees to recognize counterfeit indicators
- Use counterfeit detection tools if available
- Contact local law enforcement if you suspect counterfeit currency
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