Retailers Learn How to Spot a Fake $100 and More at Ankeny Chamber Organized Retail Crime Event

Officers with the Ankeny Police Department will share common shoplifting and forgery tactics with small businesses at the Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast meeting 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Lt. Ben Bower said the presentation isn't in response to any recent events, but that he and other officers will provide tips on how retailers can protect themselves from criminals.

One of the latest scams involves washed bills that are turned into $100 bills. The trick often evades detection since the fake bill is printed on real money and pens that retailers use would show that it is safe. Counterfeiters wash ink from the bills in a process called bleaching before printing the denomination of a larger bill onto it. Officers will explain how to spot those and other fakes.

The Federal Reserve has created a new $100 bill with more complex security features but it won't go into circulation until October. Businessweek recently wrote an entire article on all of its features including a big blue security strip, a gold inkwell and more.

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