The following procedure is a guide to handling suspected counterfeit currency that may be received at any work unit. The term suspected counterfeit currency is used since the determination is not made until the currency has been given to the proper authorities and officially declared counterfeit.

DMV Procedure

All currency presented at a branch or work unit for the face value of $20.00 or greater is to be marked using a counterfeit detection pen.

Counterfeit Currency Discovered During a Transaction

When there is a reaction to the testing pen that indicates that the currency may be counterfeit the employee should do the following:

• Tell the customer that the currency has reacted to the testing pen;
• Ask the manager or another employee to come and verify the reaction to the testing pen;
• DO NOT hand the currency back to the customer.

 

When presented with what appears to be a counterfeit currency, the employee should attempt to keep the currency, report it to the manager and the manager will call the DMV special agent and/or the police.

Generally, innocent persons that have unknowingly received counterfeit currency will want to help police and agents by providing as much information as possible.

Procedure to Keep Possession and Secure the Suspected Currency

• Suggest that the customer wait while the police or an agent are summoned to verify whether the currency is real or not;
• If the customer cannot wait and elects to leave the currency, the customer should be provided with a receipt for the currency.
• Do not complete the customer transaction using the suspected currency
• Immediately place the currency in a location away from the other currency so as to not commingle the currency and possibly return it to someone else as change.
• Accept another form of payment or other currency if the customer wishes to complete the transaction.
• If another $20.00 bill or greater is presented by the customer, be sure to also test that currency.
• If the customer is unwilling to supply information and leaves the currency, then the currency becomes abandoned property. In both cases the currency should immediately be turned over to the manager and then a special agent or the police.
• Remember as much detailed information about the customer as possible and make notes as to their description, direction of travel, vehicle, etc immediately upon their departure. Provide this information to the police and agents.
• If the customer information is still on the screen, do a print screen so the customer information may be preserved. Print the screen even if the person was trying to do a transaction on behalf of another person. This may provide a valuable lead to the police.
• Important: Write down the time the currency was presented as soon as the testing pen detects a possible counterfeit. This will aid the police and DMV security when examining the branch camera recordings.

The ultimate goal is to remove the counterfeit currency from circulation; however, while DMV places a high priority on keeping the counterfeit money, each employee's safety is far more important so please remember:

• Do not act in a confrontational manner with the passer of the currency;
• If the customer becomes irate and demands that the currency be returned, and they begin to threaten you, return the currency! No physical altercation is worth keeping the currency.
• If the customer insists that you give them a valid currency bill if you are going to keep the suspected counterfeit currency, do not comply. Return the suspected counterfeit currency if the customer becomes confrontational.
• Gather information about the person, make notes and provide to police and agents.
• Remember to record the time that the test detected the suspected currency.
• Remember to print the screen to preserve the customer account information.

Suspected Counterfeit Currency Discovered After a Transaction Is Complete and the Customer Has Left

If an employee realizes that suspected counterfeit money has been accepted after a transaction and before making a deposit, management must take the following steps:

• Notify the branch manager who will notify the DMV special agent and/or local police.
• Do not deposit the suspected currency
• If change was made from the counterfeit currency, the district manager may take the appropriate amount from petty cash in order to reimburse the change fund. An identified shortage should be noted to balance the settlement. ( Using dual control)
• Surrender the suspected counterfeit money to the DMV agent or police and get a receipt for the currency.
• Complete a revenue refund voucher ( normal reimbursement process) and forward to your district manager to reimburse Petty Cash or the Change Fund.

NOTE: The following regions have Secret Service offices that can be contacted by DMV special agents.

These offices are normally open from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm each day.

Also, the Secret Service Office in your region can verify, over the telephone, if you need assistance, as there is new and old style currency in circulation and there may be some doubt as to the validity of the currency. The local Secret Service Office agent will ask for the serial number on the currency and inquire on their system to see if there have been other reports of that serial number being counterfeited. The agent who answers the telephone can immediately tell you if it is valid currency .

Currency Undetected at the Work Unit and Sent to the Bank in a Deposit

Upon notification from the bank that a deposit contains counterfeit money, management must take the following steps:

• Take the appropriate amount from petty cash in order to reimburse the bank.
• Get a receipt from the bank for the counterfeit money.
• Complete a revenue refund voucher ( normal reimbursement process) and forward to your district manager to reimburse Petty Cash or the Change Fund if the bank asks for the funds rather than debit the bank account. Usually the bank will debit the account and that is handled between Treasury and DMV HQ Cashiers Office.
• Verify that the bank will contact the proper authorities and will advise you if the currency is deemed to be counterfeit. ( applies if the bank states the currency is only suspected to be counterfeit)