KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Kansas City police are recommending that people who hold garage sales not accept anything larger than a $20 bill to avoid being victimized by counterfeiters.
Criminals are using fake $100 and $20 bills to make small purchases and receive real money as change. In one case the criminal asked the person conducting a garage sale to break a $100 bill.
Police have received reports of at least four people being ripped off by the counterfeiters on Kansas City's north side. The victims discovered the crimes when they tried to deposit their garage sale earnings at banks.
In addition to not accepting larger bills, police suggest buying special pens sold by office supply retailers to detect counterfeit money.