Movie prop bills being passed at local businesses

Local businesses are being warned to watch out for fake money.

The phony bills appear to be movie prop money that was used for cash transactions.According to police, there have been attempts to use the fake bills to make purchases around the area over the last several months. The most common are $100, $50, and $20 denominations.

The phony bills are most often passed when a clerk is busy. The suspects will often crumple the bill or fold it to give it the appearance of a well-circulated bill.

“Alert store staff are the first line of defense in preventing this type of fraud,” said Captain Roger Schei. “Business owners can protect themselves by having their employees do a few checks of the authenticity of a bill before accepting it. First, the prop money is marked on the front and back of the bill with ‘For Motion Picture Use Only.’ Second, the fake cash does not feel like normal currency to the touch. Lastly, cashiers should use a currency pen to check the bill.”

The fake bills are legally available for sale and are legal to possess, but it is a felony to attempt to use the bills in a financial transaction.

If you suspect a fake bill, contact Pocatello Police at 208-234-6100.