Following a Facebook Marketplace transaction, Michigan investigators reported discovering $100,000 in counterfeit currency at a residence.
An alleged counterfeiter’s cover was blown by one dubious transaction, but that was only the beginning, according to Lieutenant Rene Gonzalez of the Michigan State Police Brighton post.
He claimed that in late March, the suspect used counterfeit money to purchase a drone for $800 on Facebook Marketplace.
“They met up at the victim’s residence. The transaction of the cash was completed, and the property (was) turned over to the suspect,” Gonzalez stated “The victim went back in the home and realized that the money that she was given was counterfeit. So, that’s when police were contacted.“
Investigators found that the same individual is the subject of similar investigations by other law enforcement organizations in the state. Each case’s specifics assisted them in creating a suspect.
Investigators claimed they also grabbed a laptop and cell phones as evidence on May 23rd while carrying out a search warrant.
“This is the first we’ve heard of it, and we want to make sure others in the area are well aware,” resident Matt F. stated.
So, how can cash transaction users safeguard themselves?
“There’s a lot of scammers out there, and Facebook is just another avenue for them to work off of,” Gonzalez stated. “So what I suggest to people, just like banks and stores use, if you give them a hundred dollars, they’re going to take a pen out and draw a line across that bill to ensure that it’s real.”
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The pens are available on Amazon or at office supply retailers. Fake is indicated with a dark line. It is legitimate if the line is gold or yellow.
On its website, the Secret Service also provides pictures and a thorough explanation of what real money seems to be to the unaided eye.
“There’s a lot of things people can look for,” Gonzalez explained. “Cash now is gonna have a little thread right through it, a gold thread right through the one side of the money. The texture of it feels different. Make sure that the serial numbers are different. Like a lot of times, these counterfeiters don’t think, and they’re just printing out this money, and it has the same serial number throughout 10 bills, 20 bills.”
