Despite public warnings and descriptions posted across the media, counterfeit currency continues to pass off as legal tender. While it was first localized in Belize City, the high tech funny money is now turning up in Belmopan, Corozal and San Ignacio. Again, these are the 6 serial numbers that counterfeit 10, 20 and 50 dollar notes have been appearing with. But even as we air these numbers tonight, as we speak, the new optimum grade of counterfeit currency is passing for the real thing. In fact, you might be surprised at how many business people in particular don't know when they're being taken with a counterfeit. And if you aren't surprised, I was today - when I went shopping with a fake note. Here's what we found:
Indira Craig reporting,
Operating as a food vendor can be a hectic job especially when the throng of office workers descend on you during the lunch hour. But Ma Gene who is no stranger to most is both sharp and street smart. So, when she told us that she got taken in by the funny money, it came as a surprise.
Jean Longsworth, Unsuspecting Vendor/Belizean Princess
Well, I got it about a quarter to one. A young man come and buy 5 plates of food and give me 25 dollars. I put it in the purse and didn't recognize it and when the young man come to order for the coke and pay for the coke and I give it to him he give it back. He bring it back and said. "Miss Jean it is counterfeit." So I lose out of four plate of food.
Realizing that even the best are vulnerable we decided to play hidden camera for a day and find out just how easy it is to pass off these phonies undetected. Our first stop was the popular fried chicken spot Kick Down Fence. Once my chicken was served, I pulled out the fake $20.00 bill and handed it over to the shop attendant. Without even a second glace I was given my change. The counterfeit note had been successfully passed on without the vendor realizing that she had been taken.
Penny Chen: Unsuspecting Vendor/ Kick Down Fence Chicken
Just now I didn't look at the money so I didn't know it wasn't real.
Indira Craig
You didn't know it was fake, but if you looked at it what would you have seen?
Penny Chen
I would see that it's not real.
We moved around the lane to the Queens Square Market where yet another victim would fall prey to these high tech duplicates. So while pears and "mamie" had nothing to do with what the scheme was, the twenty was passed on nonetheless, even though the vendor's daughter did take a second look if only to calculate the change.
Indira Craig
Can I tell you some thing? The twenty dollars - it's not good, it's fake. Did you realize that it wasn't real?
Sonia Magana: Unsuspecting Vendor, Queen's Square Market
I realize, yeah, but I never mi wah tell my ma.
Indira Craig
Why?
Sonia Magana
I mi think da mi true, I mi think da mi real.
Indira Craig
Why you thought it was real?
Sonia Magana
Because I never see it so good.
Our next stop was the well known supermarket, Xtra House. They handle many twenty dollar bills a day and certainly had up their counterfeit antennae. We were busted immediately and the cashier told us why she caught on so quickly:
Indira Craig
What made you realize that the money wasn't real?
Unsuspecting Vendor/ Xtra House
By the color of it. It looks green and the boss told we if it looks green and it fade, fade, fade, not to tek it.
So while big businesses are practicing their due diligence in scrutinizing all notes that come into their possession it seems that those small businesses who can least afford it are being taken in:
Jean Longsworth: Unsuspecting Vendor/Belizean Princess
I think that if I was noticing more when Mr. Galvez was showing it on the T.V. I could have helped myself but I wasn't paying it no mind, so I give away four plates of food..so maybe tonight I'll catch the boledo and win double... that's all I can say... can't get mad. That's life.
Again, while the counterfeit notes bear the sleeping giant watermark - and the silver thread - there are two easily discernible tell-tale signs that it's counterfeit. First, the bills have a different feel, and may appear slightly smudged. Secondly, the silver thread in the counterfeit does not bear any writing on it - while when you hold the real one up to the light - it states the denomination in fine print.