# wheresgeorge \[currency tracking site\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 24, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494 "2009-05-24T20:17:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sherrycherie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@sherrycherie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sherrycherie)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/1 "2009-05-24T20:17:19Z")
Rarely do I receive one of these bills, but did yesterday. When typing in the tracking information at their website, (it had only been admitted once), the originator thanked ‘us’ for tracking this bill and added, Did you notice it was sherlocked? What does THAT mean?? Does it have anything to do with the fact the wheresgeorge was not stamped in red ink, like most of them are; rather, handwritten very small in red ink on the reverse side? Thanks! This has me puzzled. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/2 "2009-05-24T20:20:49Z")
According to the [glossary](http://www.wheresgeorge.net/dictionary.html#s) at Where’s George?: > [@](#): > > **Sherlock George** - n. A bill entered into Where’s George without the URL or the words wheresgeorge marked on it but is marked with a clue indicating it is entered. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/3 "2009-05-24T20:21:37Z")
Edited title for the benefit of those who have not heard of this site. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![sherrycherie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@sherrycherie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sherrycherie)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/4 "2009-05-25T07:08:54Z")
Thank you!🙂 I find that a most interesting term–“sherlocked”! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/5 "2009-05-25T08:34:20Z")
If it was not marked at all it would be stealth. If it was only marked on the back it would be a Chicken George. I hope you registered for the site. Earn, mark, spend. We need more people! ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/6 "2009-05-25T09:13:45Z")
I’ve had two of these bills in the last few years. One was sherlocked and the other was stamped. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/7 "2009-05-25T09:41:29Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > I’ve had two of these bills in the last few years. One was sherlocked and the other was stamped. I hope you entered them. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/8 "2009-05-25T09:43:30Z")
Is it legal to write on bank notes in the US? It certainly isn’t in the UK. Concerning notes, the Currency and Bank Notes Act 1928 says If any person prints, or stamps, or by any means impresses, on any bank note any words, letters or figures, he shall, in respect of each offence, be liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding one pound. The penalty was changed to 25 in 1977 (Criminal Law Act, s.31) and to 200 in 1982 (Criminal Justice Act, s.46). [Link](http://www.opsi.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1928/cukpga_19280013_en_1) ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/9 "2009-05-25T09:51:35Z")
Looks to be illegal in the US too. US Code Title 18 Section 333 Whoever mutilates, cuts, defaces, disfigures, or perforates, or unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, or Federal Reserve bank, or the Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt unfit to be reissued, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. [Link](http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/uscodes/18/parts/i/chapters/17/sections/section_333.html) Pretty difficult to enforce, I guess, because I’ve certainly seen many British notes with numbers scribbled on, etc. (Although that intent part in the US code looks like a loophole.) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/10 "2009-05-25T10:02:44Z")
As is explained on the wheres george site it is illegal to deface US currency. The law defines ‘illegal’ defacement as defacement that renders bills unfit to be re-issued. Just stamping it is not illegal. I’ve been on the site for a while. I know that that Hank, the owner of the site, was visited by the US Secret Service when it started up. He was investigated and he was cleared of any wrong doing. They did not come out and endorse the site but they found that he was not doing anything wrong. They wanted him to make clear that it was fine to mark bills and spend them normally. What is not allowed is withdrawing money, marking and entering the bills, and dumping them back in the bank. I know some might argue that it is still illegal by the law but I will take the Secret Service’s word for it. Here is the [FAQ](http://www.wheresgeorge.com/faq.php). ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/11 "2009-05-25T13:51:16Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Looks to be illegal in the US too. > > US Code Title 18 Section 333 > > Whoever mutilates, cuts, defaces, disfigures, or perforates, or > unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank > bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national > banking association, or Federal Reserve bank, or the Federal > Reserve System, **with intent to render such bank bill, draft, note, > or other evidence of debt unfit to be reissued**, shall be fined > under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. > > [Link](http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/uscodes/18/parts/i/chapters/17/sections/section_333.html) > > Pretty difficult to enforce, I guess, because I’ve certainly seen many British notes with numbers scribbled on, etc. (Although that intent part in the US code looks like a loophole.) I’ve bolded the important part for you. Hope that helps. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/12 "2009-05-25T14:16:26Z")
I got one years ago when it was still pretty popular. I don’t recall exactly why I didn’t enter the information - I just recall it was too much work for a lark and I clicked away. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/13 "2009-05-25T14:56:39Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > If it was not marked at all it would be stealth. If it was only marked on the back it would be a Chicken George. > > I hope you registered for the site. Earn, mark, spend. We need more people! If a bill is completely unmarked, how do you know that it’s being tracked by wheresgeorge? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/14 "2009-05-25T15:11:03Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > If a bill is completely unmarked, how do you know that it’s being tracked by wheresgeorge? You don’t. You find out when you enter the SN and discover it’s already being tracked. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/15 "2009-05-25T15:18:00Z")
If marking on money was a crime no matter what than banks, stores, etc would be in hotter water than a dinner lobster. It’ common practice I’ve noticed for them to mark larger bills with a marker when handed them at the register. I don’t know why. ---
**Author:** ![FalconFinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@FalconFinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FalconFinder)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/16 "2009-05-25T15:32:55Z")
I always stores using the marker was something to do with checking for forgeries… I’ve found bills marked with Where’s George and put in my entry for it. Unfortunately, only one has been entered since I put mine in. I think it’s a cool thing, but not everyone does it and so you don’t always get to see where your bill ended up. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/17 "2009-05-25T15:46:37Z")
> [@FalconFinder](#): > > I always stores using the marker was something to do with checking for forgeries… Yes, it’s a counterfeit currency detector pen. It contains an iodine solution which reacts with the starch in ordinary paper, turning black. Currency paper isn’t really paper at all, it’s a cotton/linen blend very much like stiff felt and contains no starch. On genuine currency, the iodine remains yellow to yellowish-brown. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/18 "2009-05-25T15:56:24Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > I’ve bolded the important part for you. Hope that helps. As you’ll note, I’d already acknowledged the key clause in the last part of my post. But thanks anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/19 "2009-05-25T16:01:36Z")
You seemed unsure. I wanted to make it clear that the intent part is key. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Poster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494/20 "2009-05-25T19:10:20Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Is it legal to write on bank notes in the US? It certainly isn’t in the UK. > > Concerning notes, the Currency and Bank Notes Act 1928 says If any person prints, or stamps, or by any means impresses, on any bank note any words, letters or figures, he shall, in respect of each offence, be liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding one pound. The penalty was changed to 25 in 1977 (Criminal Law Act, s.31) and to 200 in 1982 (Criminal Justice Act, s.46). > > [Link](http://www.opsi.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1928/cukpga_19280013_en_1) Everyone ignores this stupid law though, so who cares? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheresgeorge-currency-tracking-site/497494.md?page=2)