4 suspects arrested for circulating counterfeit US dollar bills in Ankara

Four individuals have been arrested in Ankara for circulating counterfeit U.S. dollars, Turkish authorities said Tuesday. The suspects were found with fake $50 and $100 bills and illegal drugs during an operation led by the Ankara Prosecutor’s Office.

Investigation uncovers counterfeit US dollar scheme

An investigation by the Ankara Prosecutor’s Office’s Bureau of Forgery and Fraud revealed that the suspects were involved in a scheme to circulate counterfeit U.S. currency.

According to authorities, the group, including a suspect identified as Y.C., was selling fake $50 and $100 bills in exchange for commissions. The counterfeit currency was circulated in various parts of the city.

Authorities seize fake US currency and drugs

During the arrests, law enforcement officers seized a total of $20,000 in counterfeit U.S. dollars and a quantity of illegal drugs. The investigation continues, and authorities are still searching for one additional suspect involved in the scheme.

The operation comes after a court-issued arrest warrant on Dec. 3 for five individuals suspected of participating in the counterfeit currency network.

How to identify counterfeit dollar notes

Turkish police have highlighted key features to help distinguish genuine $50 and $100 banknotes from counterfeits:

• Microprinting on $50 bills: Authentic $50 notes feature micro-printed text, such as “The United States of America,” around the portrait’s three-lined frame. In the 2004 series, “USA 50” and “USA FIFTY” are microprinted with two stars near the Federal Reserve seal.
• Color-shifting ink: On genuine $50 bills, the “50” shifts from green to black when tilted. For the 2004 series, the “50” transitions from copper to green when the note is moved up or down.
• Security thread on $100 bills: The most reliable way to verify a $100 bill is by checking the embedded security thread under light. Genuine notes show “USA HUNDRED” on both sides of the thread.

Authorities emphasize the importance of closely inspecting these features to detect sophisticated counterfeit U.S. currency.