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Last week, multiple news outlets reported about an East Machias man that was arrested for robbery and for trying to pass counterfeit money:
According to these news sources, approximately $3,800 in fake $20 and $100 bills were seized. These bills contained “For Motion Picture Purposes” on them.
In August, the Maine Credit Union League was alerted about fake $10 and $100 bills circulating in the central Maine area. Similarly, these bills contained “For Motion Picture Use Only.” These types of bills can be legally purchased, but knowingly passing them off as currency is a crime.
While these incidents may not be related, it is important for frontline staff to carefully examine all bills they are handling. If a team member is unsure of the validity of a bill, they should always check with a supervisor. Keep in mind, genuine bills have fibers and watermarks visible under UV light.
If your credit union would like to review an additional resource, the U.S. Secret Service has created a “Know Your Money” guide to spot the signs of bill fraud. This electronic PDF can be downloaded for your team’s use and reference.