LAURIE, Mo. — The Laurie Police Department has discovered counterfeit money being passed in the city at area businesses. Police are warning the public to be on the lookout.
The counterfeit money is in $10 bills, which were first discovered at the Lake Oasis gas station in April, and then more recently at the Fastlane gas station on Wednesday, July 1. “The counterfeiters are not going for big bills, because they know they would be more likely to be detected,” Laurie Police Chief Mark Black said. “They just got some gas and asked for change.”
According to Chief Black, one way to detect counterfeit money is to feel it: real money is made of cotton and linen fibers and should feel crisp, whereas the counterfeit bills are made of normal paper, which becomes soft and smooth after use. As a result, fakes tend to tear more easily.
Also, real money has red and blue fibers that are visible in the paper, whereas counterfeit money often has the fibers drawn into the money. Real money also has a security thread in the paper showing the denomination. Also, the hologram watermark showing the portrait on the face of the bill is missing in counterfeit bills. “Real money takes a long time to wear out,” Chief Black added.
The money was passed during high traffic times when the clerks were busy handling an influx of customers. Later, the clerks both said the money just didn’t “feel right” so they used a security pen and discovered there wasn’t a security thread next to the portrait in the $10 bills. They subsequently called the police.
Chief Black asks citizens to be aware that someone is using fake $10 bills at area businesses. Anyone who receives counterfeit money should try to remember or identify who may have given it to them, and call local law enforcement. The Laurie Police Department can be reached at 573-374-4871.
Anyone who unknowingly receives counterfeit money will not be held responsible. However, passing counterfeit money is a felony. Conspiracy to pass counterfeit money carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000; passing counterfeit currency carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000.
“It seems every summer when the tourists come down we see some counterfeit money in our city,” Chief Black said. “Although we will not rule out that it could be someone local.”
