Police warn of low-denomination counterfeit currency on the boardwalk

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. – Business on the boardwalk is booming with the late summer crowds. But mixed in with the thousands of daily transactions are some fake bills.

Rehoboth Beach Police Chief Keith Banks is sending out a warning to the local Chamber of Commerce and businesses in the boardwalk area about the fake notes.

The city has seen ten cases this year. Compare that to the 14 combined cases over the past three years. And instead of the normal $50 and $100 bills, these counterfeiters are going small. The police has received reports of tens, fives, and even fake one dollar denominations.

Some businesses we spoke with say they had no idea that these small denominations were being copied.

“I had no idea. Usually it’s 50s and 100s, they’re a lot easier to spot. But the 1s 5s and 10s, that’s a real problem,” said Tom Ibach, the owner of Dolles.

Ibach says it’s a challenge for his employees to spot these bills without holding up customers.

“If you want to check them, you’re going to hold the customers up checking all of their bills. That’s, they’re not going to like that.”

He even went as far as to say the business may have to change the way it handles transactions.

“They’re getting more and more sophisticated, so that doesn’t surprise me, as well. So I don’t know how were going to do it, unless we get a machine similar to what the bank has that actually picks them up and detects them. But it’s going to be really difficult.”

Chief Banks explained that these counterfeiters are even using different serial numbers, but there are ways to spot a fake note.

“Just the feel, and the look. Sometimes it just plain looks wrong… You can look, hold it up, look for the water color to make sure that’s in there, or even the security thread.”

Police are reaching out to the chamber and businesses letting them know what to do in case someone tries to pass off one of these bills to them.

Chief Banks tells us, “hold on to it. Don’t argue with the person they think has given it. Just take hold of it, try to get a description, and if they have security footage, even better.”

If you suspect you’ve received a counterfeit bill, Rehoboth Beach Police want you to call them at 302-227-2577.