Phony cash floating around Clinton, IA - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Phony cash floating around Clinton, IA

By: Katie Jones

 kjones@cbs4qc.com

Phony cash is floating around the city of Clinton and police said businesses are being fooled. Clinton Police said in just over two weeks at least 13 phony bills have been passed through the city and one local business we talked to found out first hand what fake money looks and feels like.

"When the owner took the money to the bank to deposit it, the bank caught it and said it was a five dollar bill was washed and made into a fifty," said Employee Kris from a Clinton Phillips 66 gas station.

Workers at one Clinton gas station bring in and pump out tons of cash every day and they never thought an artificial fifty would slip through the cracks.

"We have a marker and we just run it over part of the bill if it shows up yellow it's good and if it turns black then it's bad," said Employee Kris from a Clinton Phillips 66 gas station.

But sometimes the magic marker just doesn't do the trick.

"It's scary because sometimes you can't tell, when we marked it, it turned out good because it was a good bill it just wasn't a fifty," said the employee.

That's how Clinton police Captain Tom Bohle said counterfeiters are getting away with using fake bills, but there are ways to stop it.

"1st thing I would look at would be to hold the bill up to the light and look for a watermark. Every bill except a one and two dollar bill has one." said Captain Bohle.

Pay attention to detail, ink will be raised on 20's and each United State is listed on the back of a five dollar bill.  Captain Bohle said a few simple steps could save you from being scammed.

"Look at the security features of the bills, get to know them, so you too, won't become a victim of counterfeit currency," said Captain Bohle.

Police said if you think you've come in contact with counterfeit cash do not return it, put it in an envelope and take it to your local police department right away.