TOLEDO, Ohio — Technology is getting better and so are fake bills.
The Secret Service estimates more than $30 million of counterfeit dollars has been successfully used so far this year in the U.S., with about $59,000 being passed in the Toledo area.
It’s been a repeated issue throughout the summer: people getting caught for circulating counterfeit money.
In one of those cases, six suspects in multiple Ohio counties were caught using several fake $20 bills.
Williams County Prosecutor Katherine Zartman is on the case.
"We aren't sure if they were successful at other times with a lot of that money, but they did create some $20 bills and attempted to use those,” she said.
Toledo-area Secret Service Agent Matthew Schierloh said $20 bills are the most commonly passed counterfeit bills.
"The reason why counterfeit $20 bills are so common is because people carry $20 bills,” he said. “When someone pulls out a $100 or $50 bill, generally the warning signs kick in for the vendor and they start checking the security strips."
So, how do you spot a fake bill?
Counterfeit pen detectors can be used but don't work for every fake.
"The bills in today's world are getting made much better, much more sophisticated,” Schierloh said.
He added that criminals will bleach a real bill and print a different amount on top.
"What we do see a lot of is a bleached $1 bill,” Schierloh said. “They'll take $1 bills, and they'll print $100s on the $1 bill."
Another tactic used is a printer to create "fresh" fake money.
"You can take an image and really make it or factor it the way you want it just by playing with it on your computer,” Schierloh said.
There are ways to outsmart the criminals, though.
Firstly, you can feel the texture of the fake and compare it to a real bill.
You can also hold it up to a light and see if the watermark matches the face on the front.
"If it's a different president, that's definitely not right,” Schierloh added.
While you're already holding it up to the light, you can check for red and blue security fibers, which real bills have.
If you're really dedicated to finding out if you have a fake bill, you can put it under an ultraviolet light source and you'll be able to see a security thread embedded in the bill.
"You need to take the extra precautions and really look for the ultraviolet rays, the security strip, and the red and blue fibers,” Schierloh said.
Fake money can be harmful, "especially when you have your own business and you rely on the money that you make daily,” he added.
If you get a hold of a counterfeit bill, you can contact your local U.S. Secret Service Office or your local police department to report it.