Authorities warn about counterfeit money

DURANT, Okla. (AP) -- A number of counterfeit bills have been showing up in the Durant area, police say. <br><br>Just this month, five counterfeit $20s, one $100, one $10 and one $50 bill have surfaced

Thursday, April 20th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DURANT, Okla. (AP) -- A number of counterfeit bills have been showing up in the Durant area, police say.

Just this month, five counterfeit $20s, one $100, one $10 and one $50 bill have surfaced at the First National Bank. A teller at First United Bank spotted three fake $20 bill.

Capt. Durward Cook said the fake $10 bill "would have easily fooled someone who was not paying attention to it."

It is not unusual for a counterfeit bill to occasionally turn up, but police say this is the first time there has been this many around the same time.

Several fake bills also have recently surfaced in the Sherman, Texas, area, detectives said.

"Our main goal is to let people know somebody is spending these bills in town and if you pay attention, it will save a lot of heartache in trying to get this thing straightened out," Cook said.

The counterfeit $20 bills, $100 and $50 bills were copied from the newer style of bill. All of them lacked the watermark, the double image of the portrait that appears on legitimate bills. The mark can be seen when the bill is held to light.