Warning: Counterfeit Cash Spreading in NE Missouri

It's time to pay special attention to any cash you handle especially if you live in northeast Missouri as police have confirmed that some illegitimate currency is now making the rounds.

This alert was just shared today by the Monroe City, Missouri Police Department on their Facebook page. Someone passed off this $20 as real, but it's lacking some very key security features that are included on legitimate money.

How can you tell if money is counterfeit?

The United States Secret Service gives you several key elements to look for.

• Real money has discrete little red and blue fibers dispersed throughout the bill
• There is a watermark that can be seen when held up to a light
• 2004 and newer bills have color-shifting ink
• There is a 3-D security ribbon that causes the numbers and bells to move side-to-side

There are also serial numbers and other security features that can be checked by experts. The tricky thing about the bills found in circulation in Monroe City, Missouri is the texture feels legit. A bill that doesn't feel right is normally a dead giveaway that you're dealing with counterfeit money, but it's much more difficult when the villains make the texture close to the real thing. As the Monroe City Police warn, it's now time to be especially alert including small bills in northeast Missouri. If there's one fake bill out there, then you have to assume there are many more.