WILLIAMS – Counterfeit bills have been showing up recently in Williams. It is reported that they are in $20 and $100 denominations.

The Grand Canyon Coffee and Cafe is the latest business to get hit with one of the fake twenties. The persons passing the bill are known to them and they routinely travel through Williams and the Grand Canyon. It is possible that they received it not knowing it was counterfeit.This particular bill is not a particularly good replication. The watermark face on the back side is actually drawn on. Just holding it to the light would shows the face, but not very clearly. On the front, the seal is dull where on a real bill it is shiny. The “20” on the lower right corner of a real bill has little lines through it. On this fake bill is is printed without lines. Another clue is to feel the face on the bill. It should be rough. If it is smooth, you should suspect the bill. The actual paper of the bill may feel real, but most bills are printed on regular ink jet printers.Businesses, no matter how busy, should start to take time to check bills carefully. Citizens should check bills they receive in change. Another option is to purchase a counterfeit bill If you receive a fake bill, you are stuck with it.

The U.S. Secret Service has produced a PDF explaining how to spot counterfeit bills. The New York Post reported in November of 2016 about a counterfeit ring in Peru that produced excellent quality counterfeits of bills from around the world.