ST. CROIX — The Virgin Islands Police Department’s Economic Crime Unit (ECU) is warning residents to be on the lookout for counterfeit bills circulating the territory, VIPD Public Information Officer Kevin Jackson announced this afternoon.
According to Jackson, the counterfeit currency has been discovered in the denominations of $10, $20, $50, and $100 notes, with banking institutions and casino operators reporting an influx of complaints.
The bills look and feel real, according to the release. However, the only characteristic that may be used to determine that it’s real or fake is through the color shifting ink on the bill itself. The color shifting ink is located on the front of the bill (on the number denomination on the right corner of the bill) in metallic ink and it changes color — from copper to green — as you tilt the bill.
The press release further stated that it appears that the counterfeit bills are actually “bleached-out” $1.00 and $5.00 bills that have been printed over, making them appear to be $10, $20, $50, and $100 notes.
Residents who’ve received any of the described bills are being asked to turn them over to police immediately.
For further information, contact the Economic Crime Unit at 340-778-2211 on St. Croix or 340- 774-3942 on St. Thomas.
Tags: fake us currency
Share On Facebook
Tweet It
