FORT SMITH, Ark. -
Police in Sebastian and Crawford County are looking into multiple cases of counterfeit money being passed around.
Last week, several fake $20 bills showed up at retailers around both counties; in Fort Smith, four incidences of fake $100 bills were reported to police over the weekend. Sergeant Levi Risely says the bills are apparently good enough to pass the 'marker test' that many retailers use.
"If you don't look closely and just mark it with a pen and take it, it shows to be a real bill," he said Monday.
Risley says in all four cases, the money was used at fast food restaurants to pay for food in the drive-through lane; in one instance, the fake bill was noticed when it got wet and the ink began to run. The same person was seen passing bills at two locations, a white male in his early twenties or thirties driving a maroon sedan; police are trying to identify him, to find out where he first got the money.
"The people that are passing these may or may not know they have a counterfeit bill in their hand, they could have got change from a convenience store or fast food restaurant or any other retail outlet," said Risley.
Police say the best way to catch the bills are to look security strips and watermarks embedded in the paper itself; a fake 100 either won't have them, or they won't match up.
If you have any information about these crimes, contact the River Valley Crimestoppers at 78-CRIME. You will remain anonymous, and could be elligible for a cash reward.
Last week, several fake $20 bills showed up at retailers around both counties; in Fort Smith, four incidences of fake $100 bills were reported to police over the weekend. Sergeant Levi Risely says the bills are apparently good enough to pass the 'marker test' that many retailers use.
"If you don't look closely and just mark it with a pen and take it, it shows to be a real bill," he said Monday.
Risley says in all four cases, the money was used at fast food restaurants to pay for food in the drive-through lane; in one instance, the fake bill was noticed when it got wet and the ink began to run. The same person was seen passing bills at two locations, a white male in his early twenties or thirties driving a maroon sedan; police are trying to identify him, to find out where he first got the money.
"The people that are passing these may or may not know they have a counterfeit bill in their hand, they could have got change from a convenience store or fast food restaurant or any other retail outlet," said Risley.
Police say the best way to catch the bills are to look security strips and watermarks embedded in the paper itself; a fake 100 either won't have them, or they won't match up.
If you have any information about these crimes, contact the River Valley Crimestoppers at 78-CRIME. You will remain anonymous, and could be elligible for a cash reward.
