
Deming Police Chief Michael Carillo said three counterfeits were discovered by businesses Wednesday. Four businesses reported receiving the bills the day before.
Carillo cautioned that these bills may pass a normal counterfeit-verification pen swipe because they are actual $5 bills being chemically washed and then reprinted with the $100 bill image.
They are detectable as counterfeits, however, because of the lower quality ink and the watermark.
Detective Clint Hogan said the $5 bill watermark is evident on the fake $100s, so people need to hold the bills up to a light and look for the large number 5 in the watermark and the strip that indicates the bill’s true denomination.
Hogan asked that anyone receiving a fake bill retain it and call the Deming Police Department instead of returning it to the customer.
Carillo said they have two suspects – an Anglo male and a Hispanic male – and information on suspect vehicles. The investigation is continuing.