Charity begins at the home office

February 19, 2006 11:49 AM

The Axis of Evil has some competition — in Ohio.The Bush Administration continues to apply pressure to North Korea about its alleged counterfeiting of $100 notes: This Korean story quotes Amb. Alexander Vershbow demanding physical proof that Pyongyang has destroyed its forging equipment. On the other hand, according to the BBC, South Korea's intelligence service doubts the North is counterfeiting, although it may have done so in the past. Meanwhile, on the homefront, a 16-year-old has been fingered as the mastermind of a bogus bill ring operating out of the boy's home in North College Hill, OH. Oddly, the Cincinnati Enquirer article announcing the bust is chock-full of juicy tips for would-be home engravers: rip off old bills rather than new, don't overlook those colored fibers, and set the wash cycle for delicates. Oh, and don't even think about using scissors: it's a sure giveaway!
posted by rob511 (17 comments total)

The best thing to do is scrub the ink off of a $1 or even a new $5 and print your new denomination on it.
posted by delmoi at 12:32 PM on February 19, 2006

I thought you were gonna say Ohio built some nukes.

Either way: I say we invade.
posted by chasing at 12:35 PM on February 19, 2006

As a result of searching google for "scrub ink bill," I came across this site selling magnets. Note the image of metafilter on one of the screens.
posted by odinsdream at 12:50 PM on February 19, 2006

Ya know, the other day I got a $100 bill that had been folded wrong during cutting and hence had like extra paper on one corner. A cashier with a scanner confirmed the bill was real, so maybe another tip to would-be counterfeiters is: "don't worry too much about accuracy, even the gov't fucks up sometimes."
posted by telstar at 12:50 PM on February 19, 2006

I was given a counterfeit 100 by a bank on Long Island, a store wouldn't take it, so I went back to the bank. They confiscated it without reimbursing me.
posted by StickyCarpet at 1:29 PM on February 19, 2006

What's round on both sides, and HI in the middle?

TERRISTS!!!
posted by twiggy at 1:45 PM on February 19, 2006

Possibly also of interest to some, Sean Garland, the president of the Workers Party in Ireland and ex Official IRA founder is evading extradition for apparently helping the North Koreans with the scheme.
posted by jamesonandwater at 2:20 PM on February 19, 2006

The dollar is going to tank. Hardcore. At this point I don't see how it can't.
posted by salad spork at 4:38 PM on February 19, 2006

The dollar is going to tank. Hardcore. At this point I don't see how it can't.

Four more wars!
posted by ryoshu at 5:09 PM on February 19, 2006

The best thing to do is (...)

...make fake $10 bills, which are the largest demoniation that nobody really looks at. Heck, that applies to 10UKP and 10EUR bills as well.

Twenties get checked, fifties and above get looked at carefully. But tens rate barely a glance.
posted by eriko at 7:57 PM on February 19, 2006

so maybe another tip to would-be counterfeiters is: "don't worry too much about accuracy, even the gov't fucks up sometimes."

Except even your own post proves why this is dangerous: misprinted bills are a red flag to be checked, and presumably most counterfeit money would not pass an examination by a trained clerk.

And what gives? Scissors? Paper cutters are less than $15 and if nothing else, would speed up the process.
posted by artifarce at 8:18 PM on February 19, 2006

Why not counterfeit twos? No one knows what those mothers look like anyway.
posted by Suparnova at 8:58 PM on February 19, 2006

Twenties get checked, fifties and above get looked at carefully. But tens rate barely a glance.

Where on earth do you live? In my experience, almost every single cash transaction consists of somebody handing over a pile of $20s, because that's what ATMs dispense.
posted by I Love Tacos at 9:15 PM on February 19, 2006

You'd go some way to helping the situation if, like here (UK) and the rest of Europe (world?), the US made the notes different colours and sizes. Hell, you will be helping we tourists (and blind people) at the same time - but don't let that put you off.
posted by magpie68 at 5:51 AM on February 20, 2006

fucking ohio.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 7:32 AM on February 20, 2006

My local ATMs dispense $10s along with the $20s, because then the ATM can offer increments of $10, $30, and $50- higher surcharge percentage (no idea what fucking madman would take a $2.00 surcharge on a 10...)
posted by perianwyr at 7:31 PM on February 20, 2006

Why not counterfeit twos? No one knows what those mothers look like anyway.

Because you might have trouble buying a burrito.
posted by odinsdream at 11:57 PM on February 20, 2006