Secret Service Agent Offers Tips on Spotting Fake Money

A Secret Service special agent spoke at the Southern District Police Station’s community meeting Thursday, discussing counterfeit currency and what residents should be aware of when handling their money.

Special Agent Gary Eitel discussed how dollar bills, or “notes,” have changed over the years and how law enforcement authorities monitor the trafficking of counterfeit currency. Eitel’s presentation focused on showing local residents how to be sure that they’re not handling fake money.

“Possessing counterfeit notes is illegal. So technically, even having a fake $10 or $20 bill is bad,” Eitel said.

Eitel explained that old methods to detect counterfeits are no longer viable.

“Using the marker to check notes doesn’t work anymore. They give false positives and false negatives all the time,” said the agent.

All new U.S. currency has microscopic details, making it incredibly hard to fake, and those minute details are what really wowed the crowd Thursday afternoon. Eitel showed tiny inscriptions along the collars of presidents and small numbers hidden inside other numbers on legitimate currency.

Eitel passed around fake currency so residents could identify it. He explained that if they get stuck with a fake $100 bill, they’re not getting the money back.

“Unless it’s hundreds of thousands of dollars or more, the government isn’t likely to help in that scenario,” Eitel said.

In February, several residents contacted Patch asking why some local businesses were beginning to examine $10 and $20 bills more closely.

Several businesses in the area weren’t willing to speak on the record, but Colony Liquors Manager Cherri Gheen said it was possibly due to counterfeit money.

While heading into her local Bank of Annapolis, Gheen said she was notified that someone had recently tried to use a fake $100 bill and that local establishments had been alerted.

“We usually check $50 and $100s, but it’s not usual to check every $20 bill,” Gheen said.

Bank of Annapolis couldn’t confirm any increase in counterfeit notes and Anne Arundel Police Department spokesman Justin Mulcahy said the U.S. Secret Service handles all counterfeit money investigations.