Skip to main content

Replies sorted oldest to newest

quote:
Originally posted by seeweed:
If you catch someone trying to pass off a counterfeit bill, can you shoot them on the spot ?

actually a serious question, should you detain them in some way and call the police, or is it like most other things if drugs are not involved they are not interested ?


I work in banking and it's been a while since I've been a teller or worked with the public in general. But this is what I remember from training:

First, I would not suggest shooting the person, seeweed. I'm pretty sure that's a no no. Big Grin

However, if you strongly suspect a person has given you a counterfeit bill (and you can usually tell by the feel), don't give it back (if possible) and try not to handle it very much. (Actually, I'd put it in a plastic bag when/if it's possible to do so.) I'd also make a mental note of the person's physical description, try to get the tag number, etc. You can report it to either the police or the U.S. Secret Service (local office).
Last edited by Buttercup
quote:
Originally posted by Buttercup:
However, if you strongly suspect a person has given you a counterfeit bill (and you can usually tell by the feel), don't give it back (if possible) and try not to handle it very much. (Actually, I'd put it in a plastic bag when/if it's possible to do so.


I'm not sure I would want to keep someone's counterfeit 20. With all the crazies around, no telling what they might do. Eeker
We're told the same thing. Keep the money if at all possible but personal safety trumps keeping the evidence. If the person is insistent (threatening) that you give it back then I'd give it back. We've got camera's that point in every direction inside and outside the bank, I would just let them do their job and not get killed or harmed over a 20 (or even a 100) dollar bill.
That's true, Semi. One of our tellers used to work for Brink's and she said the pens aren't 100% accurate. She says the texture and watermark threads is a more accurate way to determine authenticity. Using the pens doesn't hurt though. Maybe if someone trying to pass off a bad 20 at a yard sale sees you pull out a pen they'll think twice about handing it over in the first place. It would be worth the 2 or 3 dollars it cost to purchase one.
quote:
Originally posted by Sassy Kims:
quote:
Originally posted by semiannualchick:
Wouldn't be any camera's around at a yard sale. Wink


Virtually every cell phone is a camera...most a video camera.


LOL, Sassy, even if they didn't catch someone trying to pass off a counterfitted bill they might catch some good "people at yard sales" pics.
OK, so I'll ask the dumb question of the day: if you keep the counterfeit bill, don't you figure the perpetrator is going to take the stuff with them? It's not like they're going to let you detain the bill and not take their bounty. I'd rather not be out 20 bucks myself. I might be inclined to just announce in a loud voice, "HEY THIS BILL IS COUNTERFEIT!" and be done with it. I'll leave catching and prosecuting them to the proper authorities.
quote:
Originally posted by lawguy07:
OK, so I'll ask the dumb question of the day: if you keep the counterfeit bill, don't you figure the perpetrator is going to take the stuff with them? It's not like they're going to let you detain the bill and not take their bounty. I'd rather not be out 20 bucks myself. I might be inclined to just announce in a loud voice, "HEY THIS BILL IS COUNTERFEIT!" and be done with it. I'll leave catching and prosecuting them to the proper authorities.


We had a counterfeit bill once, of course the bank cannot reimburse you (as i ignorantly asked) so I am with you on this one. I don't work for the police for, secret service or FBI. I am all for them doing their job, including collecting evidence. Way to dangerous and scary for me to help out. Realizing that if you work at a bank, of course you have to help. That is a dangerous job too. I talked to a lady that works at a bank in Killen that was robbed - same teller robbed twice. I do not know how she can perform at work.
quote:
Originally posted by lawguy07:
OK, so I'll ask the dumb question of the day: if you keep the counterfeit bill, don't you figure the perpetrator is going to take the stuff with them? It's not like they're going to let you detain the bill and not take their bounty. I'd rather not be out 20 bucks myself. I might be inclined to just announce in a loud voice, "HEY THIS BILL IS COUNTERFEIT!" and be done with it. I'll leave catching and prosecuting them to the proper authorities.


You're right, that doesn't make sense. As for my post, it was specifically aimed at what seeweed asked. I didn't mean to encourage anyone to argue with the person trying to give you the counterfeit bill or even to keep it in exchange for the yard sale stuff. But if you care more about getting these people caught - and I doubt you do - than the yard sale stuff, that's the advice to go with.

So I guess my answer should have explained what to do if you realize you've been given a counterfeit bill after the person is long gone and has taken the yard sale stuff with her. To that I'd say still try not to handle it very much and report it to the police or the Secret Service.

Note: The Secret Service is part of the Department of Homeland Security now; they used to be part of the Department of Treasury. However, they are still the agency that investigates counterfeiting of currency and want to be informed when there's suspicion of counterfeit bills being handed out.

Add Reply

Post

Untitled Document
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×