Western Colorado Seeing Increase In Counterfeit Bills – Can You Spot The Phony? [Quiz]

Western Colorado residents are being advised to keep an extra sharp look out for counterfeit bills. In the last month alone, the Grand Junction Police Department has received a dozen reports of counterfeit currency being circulated in our community. Do you know a counterfeit when you see one?

Is it real, or is it Memorex? One of the bills pictured below is real, the other is counterfeit. Which is which?

Most counterfeit bills encountered thus far have been $10 bills. However, there have been a few $5, $20, and $100 bills found as well. This brings up a fascinating question: If someone has the ability to make counterfeit bills, why waste time on producing $5 bills when you can make $100's?

The businesses most affected have been convenience stores and fast food joints. If you are currently involved with fund raising activities, you are advised to keep an extra sharp look out as well.

Let's play again. Which are real and which are fake?

How to spot a phony:

• Bill might be slightly different in size than a real bill
• Paper feels different than a real bill
• Bill lacks the security strip
• Watermarks are missing (look for the President's face in a watermark when held up to a light)
• Bill lacks the color-shifting ink on the denomination numbers on the corner.

Are you ready to take our photo quiz? In both photos above, the counterfeit bills are on one side, and the real bills are on the other.