Community Corner
Petaluma Counterfeiter Strikes Again
Import business scene of second fake $100 scam in one month, according to Petaluma Downtown Association
at the corner of Kentucky and Western was the scene last night of an attempted counterfeit transaction, as a woman tried to make a minor purchase with a fake $5 bill, reprinted to look like a $100, in hopes of obtaining a large amount of legitimate currency in change.
It was the second time in less than a month that the store had been hit by the scammer, according to owner Bruce Becker. Three or four weeks ago a new teller accepted the bill, but when the fraud was discovered left a description of the “shopper.”
The Petaluma Downtown Association posted the news on their Facebook page, calling attention to an earlier alert focusing on fake $100 being used at in July.
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The woman who entered Caravan Imports last night encountered a more experienced teller, who recognized the woman from the description and, after checking the $100 bill carefully, refused to take it.
The bills are apparently bleached and reprinted as $100s, but a watermark on the bill visible when held to the light clearly identifies its value as $5.
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Because the bills are not readily recognizable as counterfeit – they pass the “pen test” because they are printed on legitimate currency – it’s often the bank that notices first, and credits a store with a $5 deposit instead of a $100, according to Petaluma Downtown Association executive director .
“You often don’t know you’ve been scammed until the bank calls you,” she said. “The bottom line is it’s the merchant who is left holding the baby.”
The woman is described as in her 40s, long straight shoulder-length brown hair, about 5' 4" and weighing between 180-200 pounds. She wears braces on her teeth, and in both cases was dressed in navy blue hospital scrubs.
A police report was made of the thwarted transaction; Petaluma Patch is awaiting a callback from to the Petaluma Police Department.
In the earlier alert from the Petaluma Downtown Association, the following tips were presented to help identify the counterfeit bills.
1.) Always check for the watermark! Hold it up to the light and look at the watermark. It should match the printed one (bleaching and reprinting low value currency is a common scam). The newer $5's have a "5" watermark instead of Lincoln. One dollar bills have no watermark. If you’re looking at Abe Lincoln, a "5" or nothing it's not a legit $100 bill.
2.) On newer $100 bills, the 100 in the corner is shiny, not flat green.
3.) Feel the texture; on a genuine bill you will be able to feel the texture of the ink.
4.) Look at the printing quality. Real bills will be sharp and crisp in every detail. Look for blurring and dullness in the details.
5.) Finally, if you're not 100% sure about the bill, play it safe and don't take it.