Caruthersville police warn of counterfeit $50 bills in circulation

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. (KBSI) — The Caruthersville Police Department is warning businesses and residents to be on the lookout for counterfeit currency after receiving reports of fake bills circulating in the area.

According to the department, officers recovered a suspected counterfeit $50 bill and are asking the public to carefully examine cash before accepting it.

Police said possible signs of counterfeit currency include missing or faint security features, blurry or washed-out printing, missing fine-line details, differences in the yellow “50” security printing on the back of the bill and printing that lacks the sharp detail found on genuine U.S. currency.

The department encourages anyone accepting cash to feel the paper for its distinctive texture, hold the bill up to the light to check for the embedded security thread and watermark, look for color-shifting ink and compare any suspicious bill with one known to be genuine.

According to the Caruthersville Police Department, anyone who believes they have received a counterfeit bill should not attempt to pass it to someone else. If it is safe to do so, police ask people to note a description of the person who passed the bill and any vehicle information before contacting the department.