Counterfeit $100 bills look like real thing

Published 6:27 am Thursday, February 2, 2012

Three recent instances of counterfeit $100 bills being passed at area businesses are being being investigated by the Dalton Police Department. Investigators are warning area merchants to be on the lookout for fake bills which are difficult to catch with the naked eye. In each case, the bills marked correctly when checked with a counterfeit marker, indicating that they are printed on actual lower denomination bills that have been washed out and reprinted with a $100 bill.

The incidents occurred on Jan. 27-28 at two area restaurants and also the Rite Aid Pharmacy at 1320 Glenwood Ave. The counterfeit bill at Rite Aid was not found until registers were being counted, so no suspect information was available.

However, cashiers at two restaurants remembered the suspect after later determining that the bills were counterfeit. At both the Gondolier Pizza at 904 Thornton Ave. and La Bendicion Pupuseria Salvadorena at 307 Smith Industrial Blvd. the suspect paid with a fake $100 bill. In each case the suspect left after collecting his change and told cashiers that he would return to pick up his food, but never came back.  

The suspect was described in both cases as a slim black male standing about 5 feet 9 inches tall with braided hair.

How to identify them

The three counterfeit $100 bills are identical. Each is printed as a 1985 series bill, so it does not have the security features such as the transparent water mark that newer bills would have. Each bill has the same serial number, E51485287A.  

One of the bills is rough to the touch on the back, and appears to be fraying slightly from being washed. Each bill is very convincing, however. A picture of one of the bills is included with this release. The US Secret Service has tips for spotting counterfeit bills online at http://www.secretservice.gov/money_detect.shtml.

If you believe you have encountered a counterfeit bill or have information on the suspect in this case, please contact Detective Greg Bates at (706) 278-9085, extension 137.