CLEVELAND — The influx of counterfeit cash is a troubling trend that the Secret Service said started to spike as the opioid epidemic hit Northeast Ohio.
“What we’re seeing is heroin addicts are making counterfeit to feed their addiction,” said Secret Service Special Agent in Charge, Jonathan Schuck.
Just days ago, News 5 was there as the U.S. Marshals’ Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force discovered drugs and counterfeit cash at a home in Akron.
“When people are addicted, they resort to all sorts of things in order to keep their addiction going,” said Scott Osiecki, ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County CEO.
Last year, the Cleveland Secret Service office took in more than a million dollars of counterfeit cash.
“In the past a lot of petty theft, so what they figured out is they print counterfeit they can use that. What we’re seeing is they’re making 20s, 10s, even 5s, going out to buy small items to get change, genuine change to purchase their drugs with,” explained Schuck.
If you get change that includes funny money, it’s no laughing matter, because you’re stuck with it. “If you knowingly pass it, that’s a felony,” added Schuck.
The Secret Service said people are also buying and passing fake bills, like Motion Picture money. It’s supposed to be sold as a novelty, but Schuck said people are buying it and passing it as genuine money.
If you suspect you’ve been given counterfeit cash take it to the bank, call the Secret Service at 216-750-2058 or police.
The Secret Service provided these fliers to help identify counterfeit bills:
The ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County offers help to those struggling with addiction, 216-623-6888
