Fake $100 bills hit Majuro, after appearing in other islands in Micronesia
BY GIFF JOHNSON
Marshall Islands Correspondent
MAJURO, Marshall Islands — Local residents and businesses discovered counterfeit $100 bills circulating on Majuro at the end of April.
Law enforcement was tipped to the fake US currency in late April after a local resident showed one of the fake bills to a staff member at a local bank who confirmed it as counterfeit.
The $100 bill that was identified as counterfeit does not have reflective ink used on real hundred-dollar bills. The note also has what was described as “a funny texture.”
Counterfeit $100 bills began appearing in Majuro in late April. Photo by Giff Johnson
But the security pens used to mark currency to determine if it is real or fake don’t work on this counterfeit currency because the counterfeiters added a specific protein in the paper that imitates real bills with regards to the pen.
Another problem identified with the bills is that they are longer than a real $100 bill. This possibly explains why many of them are ripped and taped together.
One of the counterfeit $100 notes has small Chinese characters on the back of the bill 2. Biz counterfeit — an obvious tip off.
“These bills have been circulating for years in Micronesia and were common in Palau and the FSM,” said a person knowledgeable about the subject. “They come in waves. This is the first time we have seen them here.” Mbj
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