If you engaged in a business transaction with someone and they paid for the merchandise with these bills, would you accept the money?

Unless you took the time to really look closely at them, there’s probably a pretty good chance you would. But study them closer …

“For Motion Picture Use Only”? “For Video and Motion Picture Use Only”? “In Gold We Trust”?

These bills have popped up several times in recent months both at businesses whose employees don’t catch the counterfeits or by people engaged in private business deals. The $50 and $100 bills also have the same serial numbers.

In two of the more recent incidents, a 14-year-old Naperville boy lost around $1,200 on shoes he agreed to sell to someone over the “Offer Up” app and the “customer” paid for the merchandise with the fake bills. (Another good reminder here that any time you setup an online business deal you can always meet at the police department for the actual transaction.)

In another incident, a downtown restaurant owner was taken for almost $200 by a man who paid for food with the fake bills and was given change in real currency.

If you have any information on who may be producing the counterfeit money, please call Investigations at 630-256-5500 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000.

SOURCE: Aurora Police Department Facebook page