“Residents of Palm Springs warned of counterfeit money circulating in the area”
– The Palm Springs Police Department has issued a warning about fake money with “Motion Picture Purposes” printed on it being used to purchase goods and property.
– A recent incident involved a man using a fake $100 bill to buy lottery tickets and receiving change. He was later found in possession of $31,670 in counterfeit currency and charged with receiving stolen property and fictitious checks.
The Palm Springs Police Department is alerting residents to be cautious of counterfeit money circulating in the area. Over the past few months, there have been multiple reports of fake money with “Motion Picture Purposes” printed on it being used to make purchases at stores and from private citizens selling property.
One recent incident occurred on August 23 when a 29-year-old Desert Hot Springs man used a fake $100 bill at a local liquor store to buy $30 worth of lottery tickets. The clerk recognized the counterfeit money, returned the tickets and change, and immediately contacted the police.
Upon further investigation, PSPD officers discovered that the suspect had purchased a vehicle using $2,000 worth of the “prop currency.” They also found an electric Gotrax scooter inside the vehicle, which is believed to be stolen. The suspect was in possession of $31,670 in counterfeit money at the time of his arrest and has been charged with receiving stolen property and fictitious checks.
PSPD is urging residents to carefully inspect any cash they handle as the fake money looks very real at first glance. They advise checking for color-shifting ink in the bottom right-hand corner of bills, looking for a watermark that is only visible when held up to light, examining for blurry borders or text, inspecting for raised printing, and checking for tiny red and blue threads woven into the fabric of the bill.
If anyone believes they have been a victim of this money scam, they can contact PSPD Investigations at (760) 323-8121 or provide anonymous tips by calling Crime Stoppers at (760) 347-7867. Additionally, if anyone has proof that the electric Gotrax scooter belongs to them, they can contact Lt. Erik Larson at (760) 323-8121.
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Source: kesq.com