Layton, Logan police ask people to watch out for counterfeit bills
Dec 30, 2024, 6:57 PM | Updated: 6:57 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – Police in two different cities in Northern Utah are concerned that a number of counterfeit $20 bills could be in circulation after some counterfeiters used them to buy items in the hundreds of dollars at various stores.
The first incident was reported in Logan on Dec. 17, when police believe a man and woman seen in surveillance video in a Best Buy store made a purchase in the hundreds with several fake $20 bills, before doing the same at the nearby Old Navy and Buckle stores, then making a smaller purchase at an area McDonald’s.
Logan Police Capt. Shand Nazer said cashiers didn’t initially catch the fakes.
“But then as they went through the change from that day later or went to the bank, they noticed that some counterfeit bills had been passed,” Nazer said.
Nazer said a number of counterfeit $20 bills were later reported the next day at several other area businesses. Detectives believe those bills had been inadvertently passed on to customers in change, and they’re concerned more could still be out there.
“It’s definitely a concern,” Nazer said. “We obviously don’t want counterfeit money being passed around and being spread.”
On Christmas Eve in Layton, police believe the same man made two separate purchases in the hundreds of dollars inside the Walmart on Hillfield Rd.
Layton Police Lt. Travis Lyman said that again, cashiers didn’t catch the counterfeits until the end of the day, as money was being counted and deposited into the bank.
“Four or five different serial numbers showed up on all the bills,” Lyman said. “We’re still hoping to generate some leads on who made the initial transaction with these bills.”
So far in the Layton case, the suspect is only described as a man wearing a dark hoodie.
Nazer said the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing has several useful tips for catching counterfeit bills, even noting differences by denomination and the dates the bills are issued. Still, many can often be caught with some simple close observation.
Police in Layton and Logan are warning people to look out for fake $20 bills after a number of them were spent in two separate cases. (Layton Police Department)
“Probably the most noticeable to people would be just how the bill feels. They never get the paper quite right,” Nazer explained. “Also, on real bills, there will be some raised ink (you’re) able to feel with a fingernail.”
