Fake $100 bills are being circulated in West Hawaii.
Hawaii island police said numerous calls have been made to Kona police about the fake bills, which feel and look real even after using a test pen.
To check bills for authenticity, police advise:
>> Locating and reading the plastic embedded security thread. It should read “USA” and the bill’s denomination.
>> Using an ultraviolet light to detect the thread glow color. The older version of the $100 bill has a security thread that glows pink, while recent $100 bills have a 3-D ribbon. The $5 bill should glow blue, the $10 bill should glow orange, the $20 bill should glow green and the $50 bill should glow yellow.
>> Holding the bill up to light to check for a watermark.
>> Tilting the bill to look for its color-shifting ink.
>> With a magnifying glass, locate and examine the micro-printing.
Security features on U.S. currency that may help to distinguish it from counterfeit currency can be found at uscurrency.gov.
Individuals and businesses are asked to treat the fake bill as evidence by placing it in an envelope and notifying police.
Fire damages Keaau home; no injuries reported
Hawaii island firefighters responded to an early-morning fire Wednesday that damaged a single-family home in Keaau.
The fire at the wooden home on 29th Avenue started about 4:47 a.m. Firefighters brought the blaze under control shortly after 5 a.m. and extinguished it at 5:38 a.m., according to the Hawaii County Fire Department.
No injuries were reported. The American Red Cross assisted a 35-year-old resident.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Damage to the structure is estimated at $40,000.
