New York State Police Warn Businesses About Funny Money

Summer in Upstate New York means a lot of cash changing hands. The New York State Police want you to be aware of funny money.

With county fairs, festivals, farmers' markets, food trucks, and summer events happening all over the state, the New York State Police are reminding businesses and vendors to keep an eye out for counterfeit cash.

Be More Aware

Whether you're running a lemonade stand at the fair, selling crafts at a festival, or working the register at a local business, summer tends to bring more cash transactions than usual. Unfortunately, it can also create opportunities for fake bills to slip through the cracks.

There Are Tools To Protect Yourself

State Police are encouraging businesses to take a closer look at larger bills before accepting them. Employees should know some of the basic security features found on real U.S. currency, including watermarks, security threads, and the color-shifting ink used on many bills. Counterfeit detection pens can also be a helpful tool, especially during busy events when lines are long and things get hectic.

Pay Attention to What They Buy

Another red flag is customer behavior. Businesses are being advised to pay attention if someone seems unusually nervous, tries to distract employees, makes a very large cash purchase, buys large amounts of gift cards, adds money to payment apps using cash, or asks for change from a large denomination bill.

The reminder comes at a time when many seasonal businesses are seeing some of their busiest days of the year. A few extra seconds spent checking a bill could save vendors and businesses from taking a loss.

New York State Police say staying alert can help keep counterfeit cash out of local communities and out of your cash register.