Ocean City Police Warning Residents and Business Owners of Counterfeit Currency

The Ocean City Police Department is warning residents, business owners and employees to be on the lookout for counterfeit currency being circulated in Ocean City. Since April 3, 2013, the OCPD has received 5 reports of counterfeit bills in $10 and $20 denominations that are being passed as payments to local businesses.

Ocean City Police are encouraging citizens to closely examine currency by looking carefully at the money you receive. Citizens should be aware of the security features located on currency. The three main security features located on bills are:

• Shifting inks on the dollar amount located on the face side in the bottom right corner.
• Security threads, which display the denomination of the currency imbedded in the bill.
• The watermark located on the face of the bill on the right side.

In addition, the Ocean City Police Department is offering these tips to detect suspicious or counterfeit currency:

• The genuine portrait appears lifelike and stands out distinctly from the background. The counterfeit portrait is usually lifeless and flat. Details merge into the background, which is often too dark or mottled.
• On a genuine bill, the saw-tooth points of the Federal Reserve and Treasury seals are clear, distinct and sharp. The counterfeit seals may have uneven, blunt or broken saw-tooth points.
• Genuine serial numbers have a distinctive style and are evenly spaced. The serial numbers are printed in the same ink color as the Treasury Seal. On a counterfeit, the serial numbers may differ in color or shade of ink from the Treasury seal. The numbers may not be uniformly spaced or aligned.

Ocean City Police are asking that residents and businesses if you locate suspicious currency to please report the incident to police. 

Anyone with any additional information regarding the recent incidents of counterfeit currency occurring in Ocean City is asked to contact the OCPD Criminal Investigation Division Detective David Whitmer at: 410-520-5390.  In addition, the OCPD reminds businesses and community groups that a crime prevention officer is available to conduct counterfeit awareness presentations upon appointment through the Public Affairs Office.

For further information on detecting counterfeit U. S. currency, citizens are encouraged to visit the United States Secret Service Web site at:http://www.secretservice.gov/know_your_money.shtml.

Submitted by:
Ocean City Police Department