Woman arrested for counterfeit money
Toolbox
Published: June 22, 2009
SHARON – A woman was arrested after she and her daughter used counterfeit money at two different establishments.
On June 19, Sandy Jones, of Sharon, was arrested after she used three counterfeit 20-dollar bills at the Midway Store in Sharon. That same day, Nicole Moses, who is Jones's daughter, was cited for passing a counterfeit 50-dollar bill at the Corner Stop in South Royalton, according to a Vermont State Police report.
Police believe the incidents are related. In both cases, the bills were printed from a color printer and the paper had been wrinkled to make the money look worn. Store clerks in both locations recognized the cash was fake and reported it to police.
According to police, a common scam associated with counterfeit money is for the person carrying it to enter a store, usually when the clerk is busy, and buy a small item of little value with the large, fake bill. Then, the clerk gives real money back to the person with the counterfeit money for change.
Police advise that members of the public who encounter a suspicious bill compare it to a real bill and look for differences, not similarities. Also, check the quality of the printing and pay close attention to the borders: A genuine bill will have clear, unbroken lines. Checking the paper is important as well. Paper used for manufacturing U.S. currency has a distinct texture with red and blue fibers embedded, not printed. By holding a bill up to the light, it can be checked for water marks and the security thread. A currency validation pen is also a good way to check for counterfeit bills.
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