Dalton police warn of true-to-life counterfeit money

By David Ibata

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Police in a North Georgia city are warning of $100 counterfeit bills being passed that are difficult to spot with the naked eye and so true to life, they don’t even register as bogus when checked with a counterfeit marker.

A suspect passed the bills as authentic three times on Jan. 27 and 28, according to the Dalton Police Department. The man allegedly targeted two local restaurants, Gondolier Pizza and La Bendicion Pupuseria Salvadorena, and a Rite Aid Pharmacy.

Restaurant cashiers told police that a man ordered a meal, paid using a fake $100 bill, took the change and left, saying he would return to pick up the food but never did, police said. A counterfeit bill was discovered at the pharmacy when the registers were being counted, so no suspect information from that business was available.

“In each case, the bills marked correctly when checked with a counterfeit marker, indicating that they are printed on actual bills which have been washed out and re-printed with a $100 bill,” police said in a news release.

The three bills are identical, police said. Each is a 1985 series bill, so it lacks security features, such as the transparent water mark, of newer currency. Each also has the same serial number, E51485287A.

“One of the bills is rough to the touch on the back, and appears to be fraying slightly from being washed. Each bill is very convincing, however,” police said.

Police described the suspect as a slim black male standing about 5 feet, 9 inches tall with braided hair. Anyone who has encountered a counterfeit bill or has information on the suspect is asked to contact Dalton police Detective Greg Bates at 706-278-9085, extension 137.

For more information on spotting counterfeit money, police referred the public to this U.S. Secret Service website.