Police are warning of a surge in counterfeit U.S. currency circulating from Bangor to Aroostook County.
The most recent reports have involved $20 and $100 bills, with some apparently originating as movie props, the Maine State Police said in a public alert on social media Thursday.
“Most incidents involve business deposits, but anyone handling cash should remain vigilant,” police said. “These markings can be easily missed during busy transactions, so careful inspection is important.”
Reports have come in from Bangor north to Van Buren. The counterfeit notes have included $100 bills with the marking “For motion picture purposes” and $20 bills that state “copy,” according to the state police post.
People should inspect bills of all denominations before accepting or depositing them, and businesses should teach their employees how to spot fake bills and use counterfeiting detection tools, state police said.
The Houlton Police Department also warned Thursday about a spike in counterfeit bills across Aroostook.
Some of the fake bills contained the “For Motion Picture Purposes” marking, which can blend in and be difficult to see, the department posted on social media.
Houlton police urged consumers to take the time to inspect money, use counterfeit detection pens and examine the paper closely.
The department also suggested federal tips such as holding the bill up to a light to see the holograph image, which should match the portrait on the bill, and checking for security features, which include a thin strip indicating the denomination, the watermark and the security thread on which is printed “USA FIVE,” “USA TEN,” and so forth.
The Federal Reserve offers resources to help identify genuine vs. counterfeit money.
Anyone who thinks they may have counterfeit currency should contact local law enforcement.