POLSON — Local merchants should be on the lookout for counterfeit $20 and $100 bills, which are in circulation in the Polson community, said Polson Police.

“We can confirm that counterfeit bills have shown up in our community,” Polson Police Dept. Detective Juan Maso said. “We do have some leads and as time goes by we’re making progress.”

Maso said a local merchant originally came forward with a claim of counterfeit bills on Nov. 20. Since then, their cooperation has been invaluable to police as they move forward on the case.

“It has been a great experience to see how the community has come together with information,” Maso said. “It has been really helpful.”

Merchants are encouraged to use counterfeit bill makers on all large bills and any bill that raises concern. Local banks and the police can provide counterfeit bill markers to any local merchant without one.

Unfortunately, when a business discovers counterfeit money in its system, it’s turned over to authorities and rarely is it reimbursed to the business, depending on legal action.

“We turn it in and it’s just gone,” Polson Chamber of Commerce President and local business owner Jackie Cripe said.