This alert and warning is meant for county wide businesses and the public. Area law enforcement agencies have seen a large increase in the use of a particular type of counterfeit currency being passed at area businesses and casinos.

The currency replicates ten and twenty dollar bills and is usually acquired from the internet. In one case it replicated a hundred dollar bill. The currency has Chinese characters in red ink on both sides; however there have been numerous attempts to pass the currency as authentic currency. The bills are very realistic.

The counterfeit currency might be capable of passing the counterfeit pen test which should not be relied upon. In some cases the currency has been “washed” to remove the Chinese characters.

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Department currently has about ten such cases going as far back as June 2016. Other agencies such as the Port Angeles Police Department, Sequim Police Department, and the Elwha Police Department have similar cases.

Anyone receiving this type of currency is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Department or Police Department. In some cases, those that tried to use the currency at businesses and casinos were unaware that it was counterfeit.

Area businesses are encouraged to contact law enforcement concerning questionable currency and are encouraged to not accept questionable currency. It is unlawful to attempt to pass this type of currency in transactions which is subject to both state and federal laws. The accompanying photos are examples of the paper bills that are being passed in the area.