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Counterfeit $20 bill in the Tip Bucket?

What should I do with this $20 bill that I suspect might be counterfeit?

  • Spend it quickly?

    Votes: 21 15.2%
  • Take it to the banl for their opinion?

    Votes: 51 37.0%
  • Alert the authorities?

    Votes: 38 27.5%
  • Put it in with the rest of my gig money and forget about it?

    Votes: 14 10.1%
  • Other?

    Votes: 14 10.1%

  • Total voters
    138
  • Poll closed .
I was told to throw it all in the dumpster.
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Only way at this point is simply take it to a bank. Let them hit it with the marker.
So, I took it to the bank. I had other business there and the teller and I know each other a little bit. She says its real. She felt the ridges on the collar and then she looked at it at the light and told me that there is another figure of Jackson over to the side of the main figure, and there is! So it's real and I'm spending it.
 
I think the right thing is what the law says...if you pass it, your'e guilty. Just throw it away save yourself a visit from the secret service, as we all know that was their first assignment to stop counterfeit money, not protect humans...

While technically correct... I think we're losing context here. It's a single $20. Big f... deal. Nobody will care.

Lose it, take it to the bank, spend it, burn it... Don't sweat it. You won't get a SWAT team breaking into your home at 4am ;)
 
told me that there is another figure of Jackson over to the side of the main figure, and there is!
Yes, a water mark of sorts. The good counterfeiters can fake that though.

I always just tilt the bill and watch for the numerals change in color. Is not so obvious you are verifying it's real. It's quick and minimal chance you offend who handed it to you.

It's also one thing the counterfeiters can't fake. At least as of 5-6 years ago, according to an article I read on my credit union newsletter.
 
Maybe they thought you’d be playing originals and instead they got something resembling the real thing and decided to reciprocate.
Well you were playing counterfeit music (covers), right? :roflmao:
We actually played quite a few originals, more than usual. People were requesting them so we played them. Probably ~ 80-90% covers though.
 
From the tip money from Saturday night's gig I received a $20 that looks and feels weird. It's crinkley and just feels funny. What should I do?
Probably looks and feels like that just because it came out of a lady's purse. You could take it to the corner convenience store and have them test it with their counterfeit marker pen.
 
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So, I took it to the bank. I had other business there and the teller and I know each other a little bit. She says its real. She felt the ridges on the collar and then she looked at it at the light and told me that there is another figure of Jackson over to the side of the main figure, and there is! So it's real and I'm spending it.

Yikes. Did she not run a pen over it? I would not trust some bank tellers judgement on it. It needs a pen run across it to be sure. Counterfeiters are very good these days.
 
From the tip money from Saturday night's gig I received a $20 that looks and feels weird. It's crinkley and just feels funny. What should I do?
It's just a tip, so its not exactly costing you anything. Seems like the common sense thing is to take it to the bank because they will be able to confirm if its fake. I believe if they determine that, they will take it from you... but better that, than you pay for something with it, and someone actually takes a loss.
 
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The pens are for use by untrained people and are not always accurate. Better to trust a teller trained in all of the nuances of US currency.

How do I determine if a banknote is genuine? What should I do if I think I have a counterfeit note?


I've managed a bank branch in the past, I would want the pen. You don't know what kind of training they have had and if it's sufficient. I would bargain most banks require them to use the pens and not rely on human error. I know the bank I worked for did it that way. Think of the reputation risk for the bank if they let one get by, say it's ok when it isn't and an innocent person gets pinched for passing fake bills.