Police warn of counterfeit $100 bills

Three counterfeit $100 bills have been passed in Cedar Rapids in the last week, and even got by a special marker used to detect fake bills, police said.

Two of the bills were passed at convenience stores Saturday, police said. Around 8:12 p.m., a white female used a fake $100 bill to buy cigarettes at the Road Ranger, 2349 Blairs Ferry Road NE. At 8:33 p.m., a black male accompanied by the same white female, made a purchase at Casey's, 1435 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, with another bogus $100 bill.

On Monday, around 8:44 p.m., a black female used a fake $100 bill to buy clothing at the Vanity store in Lindale Mall.

In all of the cases, the money felt real and the clerks used counterfeit detector pens on the money. Even though the marker indicated the bills were real, police later determined they were not.

Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said the fake bills were slightly smaller than regular bills and had white edges. None of them had security marks or watermarks. When police compared the bills, they realized all three had the same serial number.

Police have interviewed the female suspect in the Road Ranger and Casey's incidents. She claims she received the bills from a Hispanic male who was about 30 years old while she was working at the Lumberyard strip club, police said.

A complete description of the man who passed the fake bill at Casey's was not available. In the incident at Vanity, the black female is described as between 18 and 20 years old, standing 5 feet to 5-foot-2 and 120 pounds, with braided hair in a ponytail. She was wearing a red plaid coat and a jean skirt with leggings.

Police are warning the public to watch for any counterfeit bills and to report them. Hamblin said red and blue fibers are embedded in real bills and watermarks are seen when the bill is held up to light. The currency also is spelled out in the watermark, she said.

For a full list of ways to spot counterfeit bills, visit the United States Secret Service Web site at: www.ustreas.gov/usss/know_your_money.shtml

Anyone with information about this crime or other crimes is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-CR-CRIME. All calls are anonymous and you may be eligible for a reward.