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Counterfeiting Rises in U,$,

Click to see original imageCounterfeiting is an age-old crime – and the makers of phony money had a record year in 1982. During last year alone, counterfeiters manufactured $82.3 million in bogus money, an all-time record, accordmg to Rep. Frank Annunzio, D-Ill., who quoted United States Secret Service reports. Annunzio said in a Congressional Record statement that Americans were victimized to the tune of $8.6 million, topping the previous high of $6.9 million in1981. Fortunately, the Secret Service, assisted by other agencies, managed to seize 90 percent of all counterfeit money before it could reach the public. The officers also closed 88 counterfeiting plants, another record, and made 2,225 arrests. The enforcement arm should be highly commended for such efficient protection of the American public. Yet the problem remains, and the counterfeiting threat looms even bigger as the lawbreakers enhance their skills and sophistication at stimulating official U.S. currency through modern photographic and printing equipment. The problem is nationwide. “No corner of the country was untouched by these criminals last year,” said Annunzio. Secret Service rightly puts part of the responsibility in the anti-counterfeiting fight on the public. “You can help guard against this threat by being more familiar with our currency,” says a govemment brochure. “Only with the public’s cooperation and the aid of local police departments can the Secret Service hope to reduce and control this crime.” Some of the differences in real and counterfeit money are subtle, but merchants and others could save themselves from being victimized by studying Department of Treasury and Secret Service literature. Two brochures are entitled, “Counterfeiting and Forgery,” and “Know Your Money.” Meantime this Secret Service advice could be valuable to anyone who receives a counterfeit bill: Avoid retuming it to the passer; delay the person if possible while you telephone police; note the passers description and, if possible, get the individual’s car license number. Handlethe bill as little as possible to preserve the fingerprints and surrender it only to the police or Secret Service.