KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Area residents are being warned to watch for counterfeit $100-dollar bills being passed in the area.
Kalamazoo County Treasurer Mary Balkema says that even her office has received a bad bill, as a fake $100 bill was offered as a tax payment.
“Thieves washed $10 bills and printed $100 bills over them,” Balkema stated. “We were able to spot the fake by noticing the watermarked president didn’t match, and the security thread woven into the bill stated “USA TEN” and not “USA 100” as it should.”
Balkema urges area businesses to make sure to double check that the bill is genuine, and that if they get one of the counterfeits, keep the bill and contact law enforcement.
A good resource is the Secret Service’s Know Your Money downloadable PDF which points out important characteristics in authenticating currency.
