Funny Money Circulating in Upstate New York: Check Your Bills

Beware of some funny money that is making its way through Upstate New York. It looks so real, that many of these bills are going unnoticed as fake.

Last Thursday, the Fulton County Sheriff's Office got a surprising call from Johnstown. Someone at Hannaford had been handed fake $50 bills. But these weren't your ordinary counterfeit bills. They were meant for movie sets, marked "for motion picture only."

A customer discovered the fake bills while trying to break a $100 bill. Realizing they weren't real, they quickly reported it to the sheriff's office.

Sergeant Ian Foard believes even the cashier might not have known the bills were fake. These prop bills are incredibly realistic and can easily fool the untrained eye.

While the case is still under investigation, Foard says counterfeit complaints aren't uncommon. However, modern security measures on real money have made traditional counterfeiting less profitable. As a result, criminals are turning to movie prop money.

To protect yourself from falling victim to fake money, Foard recommends checking any large bills for markings. Counterfeiters typically target larger bills, like $50s and $100s. So, take a moment to examine the bills before putting them away. By taking a few extra seconds to check your money, you can help prevent yourself from becoming a victim of this unusual crime.