Counterfeit five and ten dollar bills are making their way around Bloomington this week.  Police say there are four instances where the counterfeit currency was used at Bloomington businesses.  A customer at the CVS on South Walnut Street had several of them and a patron at Five Guys on College Mall Road tried to pay with a counterfeit five dollar bill that he had used as change.  At the Wendy’s at Seminary Square a customer used more of the fake bills to buy food at the drive through.  Most recently, Culver’s reported that they had received a fake ten dollar bill, the first report of a counterfeit bill other than a five.

Police say that each of the counterfeit bills collected had the same serial number and printing, which is what indicated them as fake.  The investigation is currently ongoing, but if you find yourself in possession of a suspicious looking bill, be sure to contact the police.  The police then report the bill to the U.S. Secret Service.

Dealing with counterfeit currency can be dangerous.  The U.S. Department of Treasury provides tips for anyone who might find themselves with it to ensure their safety.  Those tips are:

1. Do not put yourself in danger.

2. Do not return the bill to the passer.

3. Delay the passer with some excuse, if possible.

4. Observe the passer’s description – and their companions’ descriptions – and write down their vehicle license plate numbers if you can.

5. Contact your local police department OR call your local U.S. Secret Service Office.

6. Write your initials and date in the white border area of the suspected counterfeit note.

7. DO NOT handle the counterfeit note. Place it inside a protective cover, a plastic bag, or envelope to protect it until you place it in the hands of an IDENTIFIED Secret Service Agent.

8. Surrender the note or coin ONLY to a properly identified police officer or a Secret Service Special Agent, or mail it to your nearest U.S. Secret Service field office.

Be on the lookout for any type of fake currency, as police have yet to get to the bottom of the source of these counterfeits.