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It's not easy detecting counterfeit bills, particularly at a time when the creators of fake money have access to equipment that rivals that of the federal government and can evade money counters with scanning capabilities.

Thanks to higher-resolution printing, more accurate color representation, paper of a better quality and lower production costs, counterfeiters now have the ability to make fake bills that fool the experts. USA Today reported that in 2016, six men were sentenced for printing and distributing fake $100 bills and had been doing so for more than 15 years. Meanwhile, another man in Missouri printed more than $9,000 in phony $100 notes, all while living out of his truck.

Key takeaways
Receiving counterfeit money can hurt your business. The owner of a hair salon in California told USA Today he has seen losses of up to $400 a year related to the exchange of counterfeit money. The consequences of the counterfeit money go even further than his business, he said, due to cashiers at the salon possibly passing the fake money along to customers as part of their change.

If a fake bill is detected, business owners are asked to report it to the Treasury Department, however, the department said it will not reimburse the business. Which means the company will have to take the loss of revenue without compensation.

There are ways to prevent the spread of counterfeit bills. USA Today recommended checking bills for a watermark and a security thread running through it. A $10 bill will have a number in the bottom-right corner that changes colors in the light, while a $100 bill had a 3-D ribbon pattern running through it as well.

In addition, the news source recommend keeping track of local news reports to be aware of counterfeit money activity in your community. It's also important to remain on guard during business hours, particularly during busy times of the year, like the winter holiday season.

Additional protection
Depending on the skill level of the counterfeiter, you or your employees may be able to spot a fake bill with your naked eye right away. But not all creators of fake money are so careless. Some are highly sophisticated and can generate money that can almost fool experts like federal authorities and collectors.

But such minute defects can easily escape detection from a busy cashier or newly hired employee. Which makes having a cash counter with an accurate counterfeit detector a must in today's world.

A cash counter such as the JetScan iFX i100 currency counter and check processing machine provides the most accurate counterfeit detection available. Patented sensors and analytic software scans each bill and detects those that other counters may miss. And with readily available software updates, your counter can be ready to detect the latest improvement in counterfeiting, no matter how sophisticated the makers of fake currency become.