FORT KENT, Maine — Police have confirmed that counterfeit bills are circulating in the area.
“A number of businesses” reported to the Fort Kent Police Department on Tuesday that they had discovered counterfeit money, according to Police Chief Tom Pelletier. Thus far, U.S. $20 and $50 bills have been discovered, he said.
Anyone who suspects a bill is counterfeit should bring it to the Police Department for inspection, Pelletier said.
One way to determine if a bill is counterfeit is to hold it up to a light and look for a watermark line running vertically along the left side of the bill. In the case of the $20 bill, the word “twenty” can be seen printed repeatedly sideways along the bill; and in the case of a $50 bill, the word “fifty” can be seen printed in the same fashion.
Pelletier said he will report the bills to the U.S. Secret Service, which handles counterfeit currency issues.
The chief said he has not ruled out the possibility that someone is manufacturing the fake money locally. In the meantime, the Fort Kent Police Department continues to investigate the case.
Anyone with information should call the department at 834-5678.