Counterfeiters Scam Southern Indiana Businesses Fake $20 Bills

The Evansville Police Department has been busy on the North Side taking reports from businesses involving counterfeit twenty-dollar bills.

Tiss the Season for Scammers

According to Evansville Police reports several businesses on North First Avenue have reported counterfeit twenty-dollar bills this week.

A real twenty-dollar bill has a specific watermark of President Jackson that is visible from both sides.

PHOTO: US CURRENCY EVANSVILLE WATCH

The counterfeit money has a cartoon-like image of President Jackson.

"North Park businesses got hit with a ton of fake twenties on Wednesday afternoon. An officer stopped by our Starbucks store on First Ave and showed us how to catch these fake $20’s because the counterfeit pens don't work on them. You can see in the watermark that the figure is poorly drawn in the bottom (fake) bill. They are buying something at a low cost to get real bills back."

Protect Yourself

It might seem obvious when money is fake. But what if you sold something on Facebook Marketplace, and the buyer hands you cash, do you examine it right then and there? Okay, you probably should. I'm the gullible one who shoves the wadded-up money in my pocket and tells the stranger that I trust them.

Cash Assist App

With Cash Assist’s suite of tools, you can learn to quickly locate and understand the security features of the cash in your hands. Use your phone’s camera, accelerometer, and more to help you make decisions. To download Cash Assist, visit the Google Play Store for Android devices or the Apple App Store for iOS devices.

The Bureau of Engraving & Printing:

The $20 note features subtle background colors of green and peach. The $20 note includes an embedded security thread that glows green when illuminated by UV light. When held to light, a portrait watermark of President Jackson is visible from both sides of the note. The note includes a color-shifting numeral 20 in the lower right corner of the note.