Alert: Counterfeit currency being passed on peninsula

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, November 9, 2016

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office is alerting area businesses and residents of an increase in the use of counterfeit currency being passed at area businesses and casinos.

The currency replicates $10 and $20 bills and usually is acquired from the Internet. In one case it replicated a $100 bill. The currency has Chinese characters in red ink on both sides; however, law officials note, there have been numerous attempts to pass the currency as authentic currency.

“The bills are very realistic,” Sgt. Randy Pieper said. “The counterfeit currency might be capable of passing the counterfeit pen test which should not be relied upon. In some cases the currency has been ‘washed’ to remove the Chinese characters.”

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office currently has about 10 such cases going as far back as June. Other agencies such as the Sequim Police Department, Port Angeles Police Department and the Elwha Police Department have similar cases.

Anyone receiving this type of currency is asked to contact the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office or local police department. In some cases, those that tried to use the currency at businesses and casinos were unaware that it was counterfeit.

Area businesses are encouraged to contact law enforcement concerning questionable currency and are encouraged to not accept questionable currency.

Law enforcement officials say it is illegal to try to pass this type of currency in transactions, subject to both state and federal laws.