Posted on: Tuesday, July 17, 2001

Big Island police warn of bogus bills

Advertiser Staff

Big Island police are warning residents to be on the lookout for counterfeit $20 and $50 bills being circulated across the island.

Last week, more than 25 bogus bills were passed at several retail establishments in Hilo. The fake bills began appearing in the first week of this month in Kona, police said.

Police said the easiest way to determine if a bill is counterfeit is to hold it up to the light with the face of the president facing you. The bogus bills have no magnetic strip (security thread) running down the left, nor do they have a watermark of the engraving on the right.

The numerals 50 and 20 on the lower right front do not turn from green to black as the bill is shifted in the light, police said. The counterfeit bills also have a yellowish tinge and do not have red and blue threads embedded in them.

Residents are advised not to confront the person who passes a counterfeit bill. Instead, police ask that they remember the name or description of the person, where they received it, and hold on to the bill. Call police at 935-3311 or 326-4646.