[N]ewport police and the U.S. Secret Service are investigating eight cases of counterfeit $100 bills used at area businesses.
Jordan Maybloom, a public relations agent working for the department, said the businesses in question were mostly food shops with counter service.
Police Chief Seth DiSanto said it was often bank tellers who recognized the bills were counterfeit. He said his detective couldn’t feel the tactile difference between real bills and the fakes.
“Sometimes, we look at a counterfeit $20 and it’s like why on earth would a cashier take this, it’s so fake, it’s so obvious,” DiSanto said. “Those are more common.”
In this instance, the bills were much more realistic, DiSanto said. Some area businesses have stopped accepting $100 bills altogether since it can be so hard to be sure.
The Secret Service is using bill tracking and serial number tracking to help solve the case.
Police believe the perpetrator is one person or a small group of people, since the counterfeits have been identified all in a short period of time. DiSanto said the department is investigating a few leads.
A press release from the Newport Police urged business owners to ensure all the cash they receive is authentic. It noted that real money should feel slightly rough to the touch, and larger bills should have color shifting numerals, a watermark and holographic security ribbons.
Police recommended that when a customer presents suspected counterfeit cash, recipients should not return the money. Instead, they should observe the passer’s physical description, initial and date the counterfeit money, and keep the bill under a protective cover until turning it into the police.
