Photo: Ford, Brad
Local banking institutions have contacted the Seaside Police Department this week, reporting an influx of fraudulent $100 bills being received by local businesses throughout the county. While the bills appear authentic and pass a pen test, they will not pass through electronic validation devices, magnetic ink, or UV backlight tests.
How to tell these bills are fraudulent:
- All have a backplate number of “82.” This is located on the bottom right-hand corner of the back of the bill.
- Serial numbers will vary, but all start with “BB.”
- The “security strip” on the bill is not a strip but is lightly printed on the back of the bill, so it looks legitimate when holding it up to the light.
- All the fraudulent bills received are last generation 100s, dated 2006A.
- The paper on most of the bills is lighter colored than usual, likely due to them being washed.
- The portrait watermark of Benjamin Franklin is lightly printed on the back of the bill. You should not be able to see these features without light passing through.
If you have any information about the identity of a suspect(s) presenting fraudulent currency, contact your local law enforcement agency to make a report. Try to retain any security footage related to the incident.
Source: Seaside Police