Police warn businesses about fake ‘movie money’ circulating as real currency
By Cheyenne Corin
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GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, New Jersey (WPVI) — Police in Gloucester Township are warning residents and businesses to be on alert for counterfeit bills designed to resemble real U.S. currency but marked for “Motion Picture Use.”
Authorities say the fake bills, often purchased online as props for music videos or films, have recently been used in attempts to make real purchases.
“All types of bills we’ve seen them on, ones through 100s,” said Gloucester Township Police Lt. Paul Fisher.
The bills closely mimic authentic currency, using similar fonts and imagery.
“It uses a very similar font and very similar pictures to where it looks almost identical to which it would look like real money,” Fisher said.
Police refer to the counterfeit bills as “Hollywood” or “Motion Picture” money. They say the bills have appeared in multiple incidents over the past few months, including motor vehicle stops and reports from businesses and citizens.
“We’ve had several incidents in town over the last few months where we’ve come across it,” Fisher said. “Few on motor vehicles stops, and a few have reported it through businesses, and citizens reporting that they found it,” Fisher said.
Upon closer inspection, the bills reveal clear signs of being fake. The front reads “Motion Picture Use” instead of “Federal Reserve Note,” and the back says, “For Motion Picture Use Only” in place of “The United States of America.” The phrase “In God We Trust” is replaced with “Copy We Trust.”
Police say the bills are readily available for purchase online.
“So, it can be purchased online on Amazon or any other retailer as prop money,” Fisher said.
Despite their realistic appearance, the bills fail standard security checks, such as counterfeit detection pens. Police advise businesses to use the “three R’s” when handling cash: read the bill for wording and features like watermarks, repeat the process for each bill, and report any suspicious currency to authorities.
“We definitely like to let local retailers know to check and have their employees check the bills as they come in with either a market pen or UV light as the bills are coming in before they’re giving out change,” Fisher said.
Detectives are working to trace the origin of the counterfeit bills using surveillance footage and fingerprint evidence. The U.S. Secret Service is also notified when local departments encounter counterfeit currency.
“In New Jersey, it would be a forgery,” Fisher said. “It’s a 3rd degree indictable offense. You could get up to 5 years in prison and a fine.”
Police say reports of the fake money being used have continued as recently as this week.
They urge anyone who encounters suspicious currency to contact law enforcement.
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