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Your small business depends on every transaction - no matter the value - to stay afloat, which is why dual-purpose cash and check scanners are so crucial. That's also why it can be so infuriating and disheartening when someone tries or succeeds in using fake money to purchase your products and services. Counterfeit cash is more than just an administrative hassle and a dent in your daily profits, though. It's a serious crime, and it needs to be dealt with accordingly. 

If your business ever finds itself faced with a potential case of counterfeiting, here are the steps you should take to solve the problem and pursue justice. 

Play defense with a dual-purpose cash and check scanner

To reduce your business' risk of taking in fake money, teach your employees the proper ways to decipher between real and fraudulent bills. First, ask them to consider the texture and wright of all bills they receive. In many cases, fake cash can be spotted right away, as the paper it's made from is too heavy, rough or smooth to pass as the real thing. Next, instruct them to always look for one of the most telltale signs of authenticity - the blue and red threads. U.S. currency is made from special paper that contains real threads, while most counterfeiters simply print red and blue lines onto plain paper to give the illusion of threads. 

Additionally, teach your staff to review the printing and design of each bill, especially those that don't completely pass the other tests. According to the Arizona Republic, American currency is printed in a very neat, crisp manner. Borders are even, images are symmetrical and the ink is never blurred. Fake cash is often printed using a much lower-quality process, which lends itself to errors like uneven spacing between numbers, ink smudging or smearing, and incorrect coloring. A fraudulent bill may not have all these giveaways, but they often contain at least one red flag. When your staff knows what to keep their eyes out for, they're going to be better at detecting and avoiding fake cash. 

The best way to be confident you're avoiding counterfeit cash is by scanning suspicious currency with a dual-purpose cash and check scanner. You'll feel more assured in your business's future if you know you have the strongest weapons in the ongoing battle against fraudulent finances. 

Use dual-purpose cash and check scanner to gather the evidence 

In an ideal situation, you'll be able to keep the person who gave you the fake cash in your sights long enough for the police to arrive. Many times, however, business owners realize they've accepted fake currency long after its spender is gone. When this happens, it's important to assemble evidence and documentation you can provide to authorities. 

Your first piece of evidence is the dual-purpose cash and check scanner detecting fraudulent funds. Then, try to remember who spent the money at your store. If you only had a few customers that day, this could be simple, but if you were busy, it could be nearly impossible. If your business is equipped with security cameras that may have captured the fraudulent transactions, try reviewing the footage to see if you can spot the perpetrator. 

The Houston Chronicle then recommended putting the money in question inside an envelope or plastic bag. It may be tempting to keep examining the bills, but you shouldn't put your hands on it more than is absolutely necessary, noted the source. After all, producing counterfeit cash is a serious offense, and authorities need to be able to identify any DNA or fingerprints that could lead them to counterfeiting operations. 

Once you've gathered the evidence, phone your local authorities and fill them in on your situation. They can take the proper steps toward investigating the source of the fake cash.