Fake money reported in Brookings, Volga and Sinai

BROOKINGS – Recent incidents involving counterfeit $20 bills have led the Brookings Police Department to tell residents and businesses to be vigilant, take time to verify the bill’s authenticity – and to contact the BPD or another law enforcement agency if the bills raise suspicions or fail to pass testing.

“We have received at least four reports within the past week of fake $20s,” BPD Detective Adam Smith said. “Some of the reports came from businesses and others came from banks.”

Brookings County Assistant Sheriff Scott Sebring said reports of fake currency have also surfaced in the county, including:

• Two reports from Volga, with the first one being months ago involving a $20 bill and the second one, also involving a $20 bill, occurring last week. Both occurred at a business on U.S. Highway 14.
• A report from Sinai of a fake $5 bill that was discovered when the proceeds from a Nov. 6 benefit meal for the fire department were deposited at a bank.

Smith noted that passing fake money is a Class 5 felony in South Dakota, and that individuals could face federal charges as well.

There are methods to detect counterfeit money, Smith said.

“Cashiers should test the money with the counterfeit pens and physically examine the money,” he said. “Some may have ‘Motion Picture Use’ printed on them and we have seen some that are printed, but it looks like the ink is faded or smeared.”

Smith said reports can be called into the dispatch center at 605-692-2113.