Counterfeiters: No Bark and All Bite
Owning a shop is a blessing. As a leader in the community, you get the chance to help serve your customers and their dogs in a loving way as part of the local marketplace.
However, as shop owners know, it is all not all a day at the dog park. A few days ago, counterfeiting was brought to the attention of the Corporate Office by one our shop locations.
Fake currency being exchanged into the retail shops is a continuing crime and with software and tech developments it is getting increasingly harder to catch. Around $261 million is estimated to be in circulation in the U.S. meaning $3 fakes for every ten thousand real ones.
Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique is awarded for our exemplary service and the prestige extends from our amazing shop owners. So many of you are wondering, how do I protect myself and my staff from counterfeiters without making my customers uncomfortable?
Follow these three steps to help ensure all your cash flow bills are authentic.
- Use a Counterfeit Detector Pen
It used to be that counterfeit bills were made of expensive inks and papers to try and exactly duplicate real federal notes. Now, because currency has become so much harder to copy, most counterfeiters are trying to create a passable reproduction of a bill, not an exact copy.
Counterfeit detector pens have an iodine solution that will smear a fake bill. The solution reacts with the starch in a wood-based paper that fraudulent bills are printed on. Real federal reserve notes are printed on fiber-based paper and will have no discoloration when swiped.
These pens are available at Wal-Mart, Office Depot, and online and usually less than $10.
- Get a System and Stick to it
Depending on the how much cash flow your shop receives, you will want to formulate a system based on this.
Corporate suggests using the pen on all $50 & $100 bills, and if you or staff feel an unusual texture in any smaller bill, go ahead and swipe it just to play it safe.
- Train Your Staff
Show all staff that handles currency exchange how, and when, to use the pen. Not only should staff be trained on how to use the pen, but also how to exercise discretion.
It is not rude to check for counterfeiters. But when cashiers at the grocery store hold 20 dollar bills up to the light, checking for authenticity, it can turn some people off. Understandable.
When checking for counterfeits show staff how to do quickly and politely without disrupting the flow of a transaction.
If you or staff have any questions please do not hesitate to contact corporate for assistance.
