PORT ANGELES — A wave of counterfeit cash seems to be “flowing around” the Port Angeles area, and it is not known if a second concentration of fake money in Skagit County is related, said Brian King, chief criminal deputy for the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities are urging businesses and citizens to inspect their money closely during cash transactions.
Businesses in the Port Angeles area have recently received high-quality fake bills in $10, $20 and $50 denominations.
The funny money has been reported by businesses to the Sheriff’s Office, the Port Angeles Police Department and the Lower Elwha police, King said.
Many of the bills have duplicate serial numbers, so it is clear those bills came from a single source, but other bills are less certain, King said.
Several $10 bills were marked with the serial number JD80187995A, while several $20 bills were marked with MD36540722B.
On March 18, the Walmart store in Port Angeles received $400 in counterfeit $20 and $50 bills from a man and woman whose identity are not yet known. (Their images above are from surveillance footage.) They drove a maroon compact sedan.
The counterfeit cash collected by local law enforcement agencies is being turned over to the U.S. Secret Service, the law enforcement branch of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Federal crime
“It’s not just a local crime; it’s a federal crime,” King said.
He said if a person receives counterfeit money as change from a transaction, they are not going to be in trouble.
“You’re just someone who got change,” he said.
However, if they learn from one business that their cash is bogus and try to spend it at another business, that would cause police to look at the case more closely, he added.
King said he did not know how much false money has been collected by the various law enforcement agencies.
Two people were stopped after passing a counterfeit $50 bill in downtown Port Angeles on Wednesday, but an investigation showed that they had received the $50 as change and were not aware it was not legitimate money, said Port Angeles Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith.
Skagit County
Fake bills also have been found in Skagit County.
A Shell gas station and food mart in Anacortes has reported receiving false money three times since March 18, according to KOMO-TV.
The Shell station manager told KOMO-TV that she spotted fake cash two other times last week and again this week.
Eight Anacortes businesses have reported either receiving or turning away the fake money.
A video at the Shell station captured a man in his 20s who tried to buy coffee with a fake $10 bill, KOMO said.
Police are circulating the video in the hopes of catching the man.
King said it has not been determined if the fake money in the two counties comes from the same source.
Anyone who thinks they have received counterfeit money is urged to call 360-452-4545.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
