Fake money found at Fox Valley businesses
A recent spate of funny money found in Elgin and Lake in the Hills is no laughing matter for local merchants and police departments.
The bogus bucks have been floating around in varying capacities over the span of two months in both towns - each town has dealt with three such transactions and police do not yet know whether any of them are related.
"Somebody may be out just trying to test the system," Elgin Deputy Police Chief Cecil Smith said. "There may be a new ring that's out there testing the waters."
As recently as Wednesday in Elgin, someone paid a cab fare with three counterfeit $5 bills, police said.
On Sept. 24 in Elgin, a woman used a fake $100 bill to pay for gasoline at the Citgo station at 1190 N. McLean Blvd.
And on Sept. 18 in Elgin, another counterfeit $100 bill was given to a business in the 700 block of Villa Street.
An employee realized the bill was bogus two days later after holding it up to the light and discovering an image of Abraham Lincoln in the right corner, police said.
Lake in the Hills has had similar problems.
On Sept. 26, employees at Castle Bank forwarded three counterfeit $100 bills to police that turned up at the facility.
A day earlier, employees at Illinois State Bank submitted several pseudo $5 bills to police as well.
Finally, on Sept. 17, a resident called told police there were two fake fives and a ten one the front lawn in the 500 block of Willow Street.
Police from both jurisdictions have turned the "money" over to the United States Secret Service, which will handle the investigation from here.
"Currency is the forte of the Secret Service," said Sgt. Mike Boyce, of the Lake in the Hills Police Department.
No arrests have been made thus far, but Elgin police said they have leads in the Citgo case.
In the meantime, they offer tips on what to do, should you encounter fake money.
• Beware of bills that are extremely faded and feel different from other money. If you think you've handled counterfeit money, call police immediately.
• Look for holograms and watermarks. When you hold money up to the light, certain bills feature a strip that repeats the bill's denomination in words and a face that corresponds with the bill. For example, a $20 bill should display a strip and another picture of President Andrew Jackson.
• If a customer hands you money and you know it's fake, keep it and try to stall that person while someone else calls police. Don't let the person know that you're contacting police.
For more tips, visit www.ustreas.gov.