# Name That Scam #2: "Sheets of Money"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 7, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238 "2007-02-07T18:06:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/1 "2007-02-07T18:06:33Z")
There was a full-page ad in the sports section of today’s _USA Today_ where, if you responded “sometime in the next 72 hours”, you could acquire sheets of uncut bills of various denominations for way below face value. What’s the deal with that? If it is shady if not illegal why is _USA Today_ running the ad? ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/2 "2007-02-07T18:18:05Z")
Interesting…someone selling valid currency for lower than face value? I guess if you sell enough, you eventually make a profit- I’m no businessman though, not sure about how profit margins work. I have seen QVC or some such on one or two occasions selling uncut sheets, IIRC. ALways at much more than face value though. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/3 "2007-02-07T19:30:10Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] I guess if you sell enough, you eventually make a profit. [/QUOTE] How exactly would that work? The [Bureau of Engraving and Printing sells uncut sheets](http://www.moneyfactory.gov/store/section.cfm/69), but at a considerable markup. Reminds me of the old SNL (or SCTV?) skit where the car dealer claims to lose money on every transaction but makes up for it on volume. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/4 "2007-02-07T19:39:05Z")
Is it the company referred to in this story? [http://kutv.com/seenon/local\_story\_341175115.html](http://kutv.com/seenon/local_story_341175115.html) If so, they’re selling $144 worth of uncut currency for $289. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/5 "2007-02-07T20:05:10Z")
Is the sheet printed on both sides? That may be the scam. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/6 "2007-02-07T20:21:19Z")
Here’s [a detailed commentary](http://www.gradethenews.org/2005/microads.htm) on the ad from a Bay Area trade publication. The story is dated November, 2005. You will note the company in question offered, “$144 worth of crisp, uncut bills can be purchased for $308.95, including shipping and handling,” they now sell for $289, according to **Captain Amazing**. Actually, it’s great fun visiting the [World Reserve Monetary Exchange](http://www.raremoneysheets.com/) site. They offer “the official Banker’s Book comes loaded with the full uncut sheet of one dollar bills,” for $59.00. A big thick leatherbound book of empty folios, except for one sheet of four one dollar bills. You can buy a four bill sheet, complete with folder, [direct from the Bureau of Printing & Engraving](http://www.moneyfactory.gov/store/section.cfm/69/83) for $15.50. I wonder how they can claim that their other books containing uncut $50 bills are truly uncut when they show four bills uncut and BEP only sells $50 bill uncut as eight to a sheet. Just sayin and all … ---
**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/7 "2007-02-07T20:43:52Z")
Like all stamp and coin collecting, they suck you into the hobby by presenting loss leaders. One sheet of bills at a discount looks good, but then they tell you that older ones are collectable for higher prices but will rise in value. Only if the majority of holders cut theirs up to spend, creating a collectors’ scarcity. Like art collection, it’s partly true - some art collectors score big - but mostly false - most art collections lose value. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/8 "2007-02-07T21:06:58Z")
**bibliophage** - I kid, I kid- I was thinking of the same sketch you were, or one similar. ---
**Author:** ![rowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@rowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowe)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/9 "2007-02-07T23:31:03Z")
I know SNL had a skit called something like “The Change Bank” where all they did was make change. When asked how they actually made money, the answer was simple: “Volume.” ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/10 "2007-02-08T00:38:22Z")
[QUOTE=rowe] I know SNL had a skit called something like “The Change Bank” where all they did was make change. When asked how they actually made money, the answer was simple: “Volume.” [/QUOTE] [First Citiwide Change Bank](http://snltranscripts.jt.org/88/88achangebank1.phtml) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/11 "2007-02-08T04:28:45Z")
Do they actually say that it’s genuine U.S. currency, or maybe something very similar from a third world country, and this represents their entire GNP. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/12 "2007-02-08T04:54:34Z")
Well what I saw was advertised as real currency in sheets, being sold for less than HALF (not double as mentioned upthread) face value. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/13 "2007-02-08T05:28:58Z")
The weirdest scam I know of along these lines happens occasionally here in Thailand. It’s always Africans perpetuating it, usually Nigerians. But what they do is convince the mark they have a special chemical that will turn strips of ordinary paper into crisp new US dollar bills. Usually $100 bills. I don’t know how the scam works, but they demonstrate it to the mark, appearing actually to manufacture bank notes. It’s all trickery and sleight of hand; these ARE actual notes that they slip in somehow, not make themselves. But the mark ends up paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for this miracle chemical. Hard to believe that people can actually fall for this stuff, but they do. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/14 "2007-02-08T05:35:49Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] The weirdest scam I know of along these lines happens occasionally here in Thailand. It’s always Africans perpetuating it, usually Nigerians. But what they do is convince the mark they have a special chemical that will turn strips of ordinary paper into crisp new US dollar bills. Usually $100 bills. I don’t know how the scam works, but they demonstrate it to the mark, appearing actually to manufacture bank notes. It’s all trickery and sleight of hand; these ARE actual notes that they slip in somehow, not make themselves. But the mark ends up paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for this miracle chemical. Hard to believe that people can actually fall for this stuff, but they do. [/QUOTE] That is an old scam. I remember hearing about this being a scam around 1850 in the western US. Although a quick googling seems to indicate that I may be remembering an old episode of the Wild Wild West. Which still makes it a somewhat old scam. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/15 "2007-02-08T05:39:42Z")
I guess the old ways are always the best. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bcullman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bcullman/32/8207_2.png) [@bcullman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bcullman)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/16 "2007-02-08T06:31:01Z")
So here is a related question: If you ever watch those shows on the discover channel about the mint and the beurau of engraving, they tend to spend some time talking about how they reject currency that contains any imperfections (it is almost always destroyed) I’m guessing that one potentional imprefection would be bills that have been cropped incorrectly. Which leads me to my question - if you bought one of those uncut sheets of bills, and then cut the bills out with say, a pinking shear, are the bills still valid currency? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/17 "2007-02-08T07:14:15Z")
There _are_ some loss leaders out there, where things are sold below cost. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/18 "2007-02-08T10:43:18Z")
[QUOTE=John DiFool] Well what I saw was advertised as real currency in sheets, being sold for less than HALF (not double as mentioned upthread) face value. [/QUOTE] I am not doubting you, but, are you SURE? Because, damn. If you still have the paper, can you check that? Joe ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/19 "2007-02-08T11:56:40Z")
[QUOTE=bcullman] So here is a related question: If you ever watch those shows on the discover channel about the mint and the beurau of engraving, they tend to spend some time talking about how they reject currency that contains any imperfections (it is almost always destroyed) I’m guessing that one potentional imprefection would be bills that have been cropped incorrectly. Which leads me to my question - if you bought one of those uncut sheets of bills, and then cut the bills out with say, a pinking shear, are the bills still valid currency? [/QUOTE] Yes, still valid currency. You can cut and spend them. We get people coming in the store all the time, trying to sell us notes that are cut crazily, thinking they are legitimate errors. But a check of the serial numbers will quickly show they were deliberately cut from one of the BEP uncut sheets. I think that a careful reading of the USA ad will show that the notes aren’t being sold under face. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238/20 "2007-02-08T12:34:38Z")
[QUOTE=samclem] But a check of the serial numbers will quickly show they were deliberately cut from one of the BEP uncut sheets. [/quote] So there’s a public list somewhere of serial numbers of currency originally sold as uncut sheets? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-scam-2-sheets-of-money/391238.md?page=2)