Business receives fake bills

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A local restaurant and bar owner said more than $1,200 worth of counterfeit currency has filtered through his business within recent months.

Shad Rashid, owner of El Dorado, said he's seen not only an influx in the quantity of fake bills, but also in their quality.

"They sometimes look perfect," Rashid said.

Fake bills come not only in the larger bills, but also 10s and 20s.

Rashid said with El Dorado's volume of business, it's difficult to check each bill for its authenticity.

"We usually get them when we're busy in the bar," he said. "I just think it's nice to let the community to know, so they can be aware."

Detective Billy Padavich said it's important for business owners to train their employees to look for inconsistencies in bills. He also recommended employees use detection pens that can determine whether a bill is counterfeit.

Padavich said electronic devices are available where employees can scan bills through the machine. He also recommended feeling the texture of the bills and holding them up to the nearby light to check for the watermark. Fake bills will not have the mark.

"We haven't investigated a whole lot of cases involving counterfeit bills, but they do exist," Padavich said. "It is a serious crime and clerks need to really be aware of the bills."

Padavich said anyone who receives a counterfeit bill should immediately report their finding to the Gallup Police Department.

Anyone who is arrested for passing or producing counterfeit currency, could face felony fraud or forgery charges.

"We also forward our reports to the Secret Service, so they will also become involved," Padavich said.