Beware of Counterfeit Bills

Unfortunately, the holiday season usually brings out unscrupulous characters that prey on unsuspecting victims, whether online or during sale days at department stores. (It's a tragic and downright sad commentary on the state of the world in which we currently live – but that's another subject for another day.) It's a fact that counterfeit bills find their way into unsuspecting consumers' pockets more frequently during this time of year, often leaving them as the 'odd man out' and having to bear the loss when authenticity (or, shall we say, lack of authenticity) is finally determined. You must therefore protect yourself by being extra careful and alert to the dangers. But, how can you spot the difference between a counterfeit bill and a regular bill? Listed here are a few ways that you can tell:

• Look closely at the portrait on the bill. Are the lines in the face blurry? Is the portrait too dark or too light? Are the lines in the hair, face, and clothing indistinguishable?
• Does the paper feel crisp? Holding it up to the light, do you notice blue and red lines throughout the bill?
• Look closely at the seal on the bill. Are the saw-tooth points broken or uneven? The seal may also be a bit blurry, as well.
• Check the serial number on the bill. Are the numbers indistinguishable? Are they uncommonly dark or light? Is the spacing between the numbers a bit off?
• Examine the border of the bill. Are the lines on the bill blurry, broken or uneven?
• You should be able to see a watermark on denominations of $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills if you hold them up to the light.
• It should be noted that one-dollar bills have the least amount of security features since most counterfeiters do not find it particularly profitable to make copies of this bill.
• According to wikiHow, "'Raised bills' are a very simple type of counterfeit in which numerals are glued onto a low-denomination bill to make it look like it's a higher denomination. You can easily spot these fakes by comparing the numbers in the corners to the denomination printed in letters at the bottom of the bill. If you're still not sure, compare the bill to another bill of the same denomination."

If you've been told that the bill you've just purchased items with is counterfeit, there's no need to panic. Just pay for the items with another bill and take the fake bill to a bank where its authenticity can be verified. Try your best to recall where or from whom you received it. This information can be very useful in eventually tracking down the culprit – although the likelihood of your being reimbursed for any losses is, to be honest, on the slim-to-none side. But, sometimes we all must chalk up an occurrence every now and again to experience. Remember to stay alert at all times, of not only people but your surroundings, as well. You could pick up the vital clues that will make all the difference.