[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

Very perspicacious, Gracie.

I chased counterfeiters for 20 years. In 1965 I was the case agent on seizing the largest counterfeiting production plant in the United States that year.

First, it is very hard to believe that a bank teller gave out three counterfeit $100 bills to the same person. In my experience bank tellers are quite good at detecting counterfeit money. Also, it would be an amazing coincidence that a teller would be holding three counterfeit $100 bills that were bundled together in the teller drawer, and would give all three to the same person.

Further, it would be most unusual for a community, like The Villages, to experience an influx of counterfeit currency of three different denominations at the same time. Counterfeiters tend to have one denomination that they are passing in an area, and then they move on.

The most commonly counterfeited bill is the $20 denomination because they are less likely to be scrutinized that bills of higher denominations.

The Secret Service has a web site with various links about genuine and counterfeit money. Go there and check on link #11, How To Detect Counterfeit Money. Link #3 is also very interesting, since design features on genuine money changes over the years. Actually it is quite educational to review all of the links.

United States Secret Service: Know Your Money - Counterfeit Awareness

Good site. And nice to hear from an authority on the subject, Carl.