Watch CBS News

Newburyport Police Seeking Women Who Used Fake $100 Bills At Store

NEWBURYPORT (CBS) - Newburyport police are trying to find two women they say passed counterfeit $100 bills at a local Market Basket.

Surveillance video shows the two suspects in the store walking out with small bags of purchases after allegedly passing the fakes.

Lt. Rick Siemasko says if you hold the phony bills up to the light, a picture of Abraham Lincoln can be seen behind Ben Franklin. He says a $5 bill was bleached and reprinted as a $100 bill, a common form of counterfeiting he says is making a comeback.

WBZ-TV's Beth Germano reports.

The fakes were printed on true currency paper, so the deception was not detected right away.

"When the cashier used the iodine pen, it showed it was a legitimate bill because it is currency. Unfortunately it was a $5 bill, not a $100 bill," said Lt. Siemasko.

The next clue took a sharp eye to find that the bills had identical serial numbers, so the store knew it was duped.

Police say they'd like to catch these two women before they pass any more bills to unsuspecting cashiers, because at first glance the quality is good.

"They are good, they are going to pass most people's scrutiny," he said.

He also hopes the clarity of the surveillance is enough that someone will recognize the women and contact police.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.