Consumer beware: There’s millions of dollars of counterfeit $100 bills flooding into the US, including into NYC to take advantage of Super Bowl XLVIII partying and spending. The Secret Service warn us what to look for:
The Bad Benjamins contain a set of five different serial numbers and have two black 7s above the last zero on the lower right-hand corner, above the “100” mark on the back of the bill. The bad bills usually turn up in clubs, bars, fancy restaurants and luxury stores, where $100 are not unusual. With Super Bowl tickets and stadium meals well into four and five figures, there will be lots of $100 bills passing hands.
According to DNAInfo, the Feds are downplaying a specific connection between the Super Bowl and funny money, although big money sports events are a convenient time for the bad guys and their dirty dough.
So, this is also a good time to remind you to check your credit card bills for unauthorized charges. See NYCOTC sister site ecoXplorer for advice on how to avoid identity theft.
If you have a counterfeit bill that is confiscated, you lose the value of the money, but can declare a tax loss on your Federal income tax statement for the year.
Call the Secret Service regional office at 203-865-2449, or the NYPD at 800-577-TIPS if you have information about the counterfeit currency. All calls are kept confidential.
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