# So...I have a counterfeit $20 in my pocket **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 9, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897 "2008-01-09T20:34:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/1 "2008-01-09T20:34:23Z")
And boy was that unexpected. Anyway, I took it to my bank, the teller called the manager over, she asked where I’d gotten it (In her ATM, 5 days ago), and she informs me that, well, life sucks and I’m out $20. Not a big deal. Pretty much what I was expecting. Oh, except she gave it back to me. That doesn’t seem right. So, what should I do with this thing? Anything? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/2 "2008-01-09T20:36:37Z")
I thought the bank had to remove them from circulation? I mean you probably should destorye it as i beleive its against the law to knowingly pass a fake 20 off on someone else. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/3 "2008-01-09T20:37:25Z")
I can’t believe they wouldn’t send it off to the treasury dep’t. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/4 "2008-01-09T20:37:41Z")
Report it to the [Secret Service](http://www.secretservice.gov/money_receive.shtml). They take all counterfeiting cases very seriously. (as an aside, my mom once got a five dollar bill with twenty ends taped over the numbers. The SS still took the case including investigating the grocery store where she was passed the bill.) ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/5 "2008-01-09T20:38:12Z")
Obligatory: Send it to me, along with a real one. Since I won’t know which is the real and which is the fake, I’ll be able to spend both with impunity. 😃 ---
**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:** [January 9, 2008, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/6 "2008-01-09T20:40:46Z")
[QUOTE=tremorviolet] Report it to the [Secret Service](http://www.secretservice.gov/money_receive.shtml). They take all counterfeiting cases very seriously. (as an aside, my mom once got a five dollar bill with twenty ends taped over the numbers. The SS still took the case including investigating the grocery store where she was passed the bill.) [/QUOTE] Seconded. I’m betting the Secret Service would really like to know why your bank still said tough luck when you told them it came out of their ATM machine. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/7 "2008-01-09T20:48:11Z")
[QUOTE=Duckster] Seconded. I’m betting the Secret Service would really like to know why your bank still said tough luck when you told them it came out of their ATM machine. [/QUOTE] I’ll take that bet. The SS will be concerned about where the bill came from, and why the bank didn’t forward it to them, but they couldn’t care less that the OP is out $20. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/8 "2008-01-09T20:53:06Z")
I’d cast my vote for calling the SS. When you ask them why the bank handed it back to you, let us know the answer. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/9 "2008-01-09T20:58:41Z")
What does it look like? Does it seem false or fake to you? Can you post a pic? I’ve never seen one. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/10 "2008-01-09T21:00:20Z")
[QUOTE=tremorviolet] Report it to the [Secret Service](http://www.secretservice.gov/money_receive.shtml). [/QUOTE] Thirded. Or fourthded, I lost count. 🙂 Counterfeiting _always_ interests them, you’re not going to get some lackadaisical response like you did from the teller. In fact, considering the bill came from a bank ATM in the first place, it makes me wonder if there’s someone planting these things on “the inside”, so to speak. ---
**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:** [January 9, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/11 "2008-01-09T21:03:22Z")
[QUOTE=Ponder Stibbons] … In fact, considering the bill came from a bank ATM in the first place, it makes me wonder if there’s someone planting these things on “the inside”, so to speak. [/QUOTE] Agreed- shouldn’t bank employees be better trained in stopping fakes? In theory at least. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/12 "2008-01-09T21:12:13Z")
[QUOTE=UncleRojelio] I’d cast my vote for calling the SS. When you ask them why the bank handed it back to you, let us know the answer. [/QUOTE] Can the banks confiscate your property? I guess the questions really is are there laws or regulations that allow banks to confiscate suspected counterfeit money? ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/13 "2008-01-09T21:17:02Z")
I can’t believe they gave the bill back to you. Did they mark it somehow, so it couldn’t be passed again? Even then it’s still a bonehead move. I would definately report it to the SS. As others have said, it’s a bit suspicious that you got it from they’re ATM, although I suppose it would be impractical to verify every bill they put in those things. OTOH w/ the fees they charge for ATM use, it seems not unreasonable to expect some protection. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/14 "2008-01-09T21:24:57Z")
You’re being set up! The bank gave it back to you, but put the Secret Service on your tail. Spend it and you’re toast! ---
**Author:** ![vertizontal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ad7895/32.png) [@vertizontal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vertizontal)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/15 "2008-01-09T21:25:19Z")
IANABE (I am not a bank employee), but I suspect the bank’s policy on what to do with a counterfeit bill is different if they discover the bill somewhere on their side of the counter, verses if some guy comes up and says “hey, your ATM gave me a bogus bill!”. There’s no way of knowing if that bill really did come from their ATM or not. Of course, the bank shouldn’t be giving out counterfeits from its machine, but in this particular scenario, because the counterfeit wasn’t discovered until it was in **Mefijeek** ’s possession, the problem is really his, and it’s up to him to report it. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/16 "2008-01-09T21:26:48Z")
Keep it as a memento - I’ve only had lead £1 coins, but they keep their underworld charm. Also, it would be crazy if banks of _all_ agencies didn’t have an interest in combatting fraud, wouldn’t it? I’ve had bus drivers keep fake quids I’ve tried to pass to them after all. But maybe that’s just bus drivers for you… ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/17 "2008-01-09T21:33:12Z")
I just remembered what happened to me on New Years Day, at about 4:30 in the morning. I caught a cab home, and had him stop at the ATM. I asked for $100, and counted 4 bills. I looked down, and saw the smallest part of a corner of a bill. I tried my best to inch it out, but still ended up tearing it in half. The gal at the counter a couple days ago took it from me and replaced it without a problem. She didn’t even ask for my ID or anything. Although that’s a completely different scenario, the ATM almost ripped me off, too (literally!). ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/18 "2008-01-09T21:40:03Z")
It has been many years, but from what I remember, the bank is supposed to confiscate the bill, give you a receipt, and you can deduct on your taxes. When I did this work (2+ decades ago), I never knowingly encountered a counterfeit bill. I am sure ATM technology has changed and improved over the years, but even 2 decades ago we did not count and verify every bill that went into the ATM by hand (we had machines for that - thank Og as I wouldn’t want to count out $40,000 in $20s - twice for verification!). Instead, we got stacks of money delivered - about even between new and used currency. We would drop them into the machine for counting, then load them into the ATM drums. If somehow a counterfeit got through the system (not all that hard to believe - few would want to admit to being duped by a counterfeit and might just keep passing it along to save face), it was unlikely to be found in the loading process. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/19 "2008-01-09T21:42:58Z")
Here’s what the SS has to say: > [@](#): > > If You Receive a Counterfeit > Do not return it to the passer. > Delay the passer if possible. > Observe the passer’s description, as well as that of any companions, and the license plate numbers of any vehicles used. > Contact your local police department or United States Secret Service field office. These numbers can be found on the inside front page of your local telephone directory. > Write your initials and the date in the white border areas of the suspect note. > Limit the handling of the note. Carefully place it in a protective covering, such as an envelope. > Surrender the note or coin only to a properly identified police officer or a U.S. Secret Service special agent. From here: [http://www.secretservice.gov/money\_receive.shtml](http://www.secretservice.gov/money_receive.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897/20 "2008-01-09T21:48:56Z")
Good luck delaying that ATM machine. Those things are _fast_! 🆒 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-counterfeit-20-in-my-pocket/432897.md?page=2)