‘Tis the season for fake money

MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – As Christmas draws closer many stores are seeing an increase in last-minute holiday shoppers.

But as store owners draw in extra money, they have to be on the lookout for people trying to pass off funny money.

It’s something law enforcement is always on the lookout for. Counterfeit money.

But with the holiday season in full swing police say the amount of fake money circulating is on the rise.

“This time of year people are passing more and more counterfeit money as you can see over there on that table we’ve got a lot that’s been going through our county which I think is going through about every county in North Mississippi,” said Sheriff Cecil Cantrell.

“This is a very serious situation,” said Sheriff Cantrell.

This weekend alone, Monroe County Sheriff Cecil Cantrell says deputies seized $2,000 in fake bills.

Some of the money making the rounds appears to have been purchased from China.

Cantrell says people are using white-out to cover up the Chinese symbols; then they pass it off as real money.

“You can tell by feeling the money and also holding it up to the light, and you can see the presidents picture on the right-hand corner. You can’t see that the ink on that money just doesn’t feel right at all, so you’re gonna have to slow down and take a little time especially on your hundred dollar bills,” said Sheriff Cantrell.

If someone accepts the counterfeit money, their real money goes down the drain.

“You’ve lost it just like you got $100 if your hundred dollars because it’s counterfeit just turning into your place department, but really it’s lost money,” said Robin Bounds.

“In the long run, it would affect not only us but money flows you know through the city, so it affects business is not just one lowball it affects everybody in the community,” said Cruz Jimenez.

Sheriff Cantrell says it’s hard to see people being taken advantage of, especially this time of year.

“Business people they work really hard. They are out there trying to make a living, and they’re trying to do the right thing and doing the right thing sometimes you run across these criminals that are working in the opposite direction. They’re just trying to steal and deceive people out of their goods and their merchandise,” said Sheriff Cantrell.

And when the holidays are over it is still important to stay on the lookout.

“Make sure you got that your antennas up make sure you’re being very vigilant of what’s going on because these people are out there to rip you off,” said Sheriff Cantrell.

And it’s not just business that can be affected by counterfeit money. As a consumer, you should check the money given back to you after a purchase just to make sure it’s the real thing.