Investigators found counterfeit $20 bills at three stores in Sebastian County.
“I come across one bill that was, that did not feel right,” said Moon Mian, manager at Hugs-N-Biscuits convenience store in Hackett.
On Friday Mian says someone paid with a fake $20 bill. “I saw that it was actually two pieces of paper that were joined together,” he said.
Deputies say Mitchell Country Store in Bonanza and the Dollar General in Hackett also found counterfeit cash at their stores.
“How many other businesses were affected, we're not sure yet. Sometimes that takes a few days,” said Investigator Philip Pevehouse, with the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators say the counterfeit bills are thicker and a little heavier than a normal bill. Pevehouse says all of the bills have the same serial number.
“They took a good $20 bill, made copies, scanned it of front and back and then cut out the front and back and put them together,” said Pevehouse.
Detectives want people to be vigilant. “If it doesn't look right or feel right. It probably isn't,” said Pevehouse.
Mian warned his employees to be cautious when they accept cash. “They may give you two bills that may be the real bill and in it will be the fake one also, and I believe that's what happened here,” he said.
Investigators say counterfeiting currency is against state and federal law.
If you have information that could help detectives in the investigation, call River Valley Crimestoppers at (479) 78-CRIME. You will remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward.