Phony money hurts small businesses

ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) - Counterfeiters are working southeastern New Mexico.

While that area has seen the problem for months now , the crooks are hitting small businesses hard by exchanging their funny money for legitimate cash.

There have been reports in Roswell from people working in the fast food industry to the local ice cream truck driver who have recently been taken advantage of by counterfeiters.

The difference between the real deal and a phony bill is often hard to tell, especially when you're working on the fly with minimal resources.  That's what happened to Rudy Lopez who was given a phony $50 bill for $25 worth of ice cream on Sunday.

"That day we sold like over $75 worth of product, and thanks to that $50 bill we only got down to $25," Lopez said.

He said he suspected the money was fake.   He even used a marker designed to check if the money is legit.

But the bill passed the test. In the end, it wasn't real.  That's because the base of the bill was authentic, but the counterfeiter bleached it out and turned it into a higher denomination.

Lopez works two jobs to help support his family of six, and that fake $50, put him out a days work as well as product.

"Almost a whole day," he said, "because right now no one's going to buy ice cream because it's really cold, and it's really difficult right now, you know?"

Days earlier, workers at Arby's also filed a police report after accepting a fake $50 bill.

Bank officials said when you're working at a fast-paced business, there's still a way to tell a difference.

"You can see a sharper image on the real bills, the comparison between the background," explained Kenneth Berry, executive vice president of J.P. Stone Community Bank.  "The best way is just by feeling the texture of the bill itself, because that's the hardest thing to duplicate."

Newer bills have watermarks showing the face of the president that correlates with the denomination.  Those marks can be seen when held to a light.

People like Lopez are hoping this crime will catch up with the criminal in the same way he hopes his good nature will help out his business.

"All our popsicles, every single ice cream is $1.50, and they only have a dollar we let it pass through.  Why? We're good people, you know," said Lopez.

Roswell police said they have seen a significant increase in counterfeit money reports in recent months, and as printing technology continues to advance, they expect the problem to continue.

Both Lopez and workers at the Arby's were able to give police the license plate of the person who left them with the fake bills. Police have not made any arrests.