POLSON – Anyone who likes money needs to watch out for counterfeit $20 bills circulating in Polson, said Polson Police Detective Michelle Scott.

In the past few months, Scott said authorities recovered about half a dozen bills in Polson.

The fake bills look a lot like the real thing with one glaring exception: They are worthless.

Scott said authorities believe criminals bleached one-dollar bills, then printed a the face of a $20 bill on the paper. Though a sharp eye can tell the difference between a fake and the real thing, the counterfeit cash does fool deception pens, she said.

Polson Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service are working in conjunction to find the nimble-fingered forgers, but urge anyone handling money to beware.

People need to take extra precaution when accepting money, Scott said.

“In addition to marking the bills with a counterfeit pen, cashiers should take a few extra seconds to inspect the front and backside,” Scott said. “By doing so this, (it) could reveal the shadowing of a bleached out $1 bill. If you’re unsure, ask a manager or another employee to take a look. Employee safety is a priority.”

Choosing how to handle people the dollar dilemma is up to each person or business owner.

“We encourage business owners to train their cashiers on what to do if they receive fictitious currency before the purchase is complete,” Scott said. “If the suspect leaves the store while the money is being questioned, write down a description of the person and vehicle information but please don’t place yourself in harm’s way.”

Scott said the law enforcement officials do have some photos of potential criminals which were forwarded to the U.S. Secret Service for processing.

Scott asks that anyone can report a bogus bill at 883-7277.