Catch Counterfeits With A Ultraviolet Flashlight
In December 2007, over $1.1 million in counterfeit $100 bills were seized from a home in Tonala near Guadalajara. Authorities were working on tracking down these thieves since 2005 after fake $100 bills were showing up all over southern California. 12 counterfeiters were arrested during the raid.
Counterfeit money is still a real problem. Despite work to protect our money with more and more sophisticated watermarking halograms and the like, money is still duplicated. Ultraviolet lights have been used for several years to identify fake money by illuminating detailed water marks and symbols on legitimate bills. Simple ultraviolet flashlights and pen lights are now available to the every day store owner to quickly check for fake money right at the cash register. This kind of instant recognition can drastically help authorities stifle the counterfeit money trade and keep store owners from getting taken.
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