You’re standing at a busy cash register, the line is trailing out the door, and someone hands you a crisp Benjamin. It feels a little stiff. Maybe the colors look a bit too vibrant, or the portrait of Franklin seems to be staring at you with a weirdly flat expression. Most people just slide it into the drawer and move on. That’s a mistake. The fake money 100 dollar bill is more common than you’d think, and the technology behind these counterfeits has evolved way faster than the average person’s ability to spot them. It’s not just about "funny money" anymore. We are talking about high-end "supernotes" that can occasionally fool even basic bank scanners.
Honestly, the $100 bill is the most frequently counterfeited note outside of the United States. Domestically, the $20 usually takes the crown because it’s less scrutinized, but for international criminal enterprises, the $100 is the gold standard. It’s high value. It’s globally accepted. It’s the perfect target.
Why the Fake Money 100 Dollar Bill is Getting Harder to Spot
Back in the day, you could tell a fake because it felt like printer paper. You’d crinkle it, and it stayed crinkled. Real US currency isn’t actually paper; it’s a blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen. That’s why it survives a trip through the washing machine. Counterfeiters have caught on, though. They now use specialized rag paper or even "bleach" lower denominations—taking a real $5 bill, scrubbing the ink off with chemicals, and printing a $100 over it.
When they do this, the "feel" is perfect. The paper is authentic. The watermark, however, will still be Abraham Lincoln if you hold it up to the light. This is one of those nuanced details that people miss in a hurry. If you’re looking at a fake money 100 dollar bill that was once a five, the security thread will also be in the wrong place and say "USA FIVE" in tiny letters. It’s a clever trick that bypasses the "pen test" entirely.
Speaking of the pen—those iodine-based counterfeit detector pens? They are borderline useless against a sophisticated fake money 100 dollar bill. All the pen does is react to starch. If a counterfeiter uses starch-free paper, the pen stays yellow, giving you a false sense of security. Serious retail pros don’t even use them anymore. They rely on UV lights and physical touch.
The Security Features That Actually Matter
If you want to beat the scammers, you have to look at the 2013 redesign of the $100 note. This version was specifically engineered to be a nightmare for counterfeiters.
The biggest hurdle is the 3D Security Ribbon. That’s the blue strip woven into the center of the bill. It’s not printed on the paper; it’s woven through it. When you tilt the bill, you’ll see images of bells and 100s moving. If you tilt it back and forth, they move up and down. If you tilt it side to side, they move from side to side. Most fake money 100 dollar bill creators can’t replicate this movement. They usually just print a static blue line or use a shiny sticker that doesn't "shift" when you move it. It looks dead.
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Then there is the Bell in the Inkwell. This is located to the right of Benjamin Franklin’s portrait. Inside the copper-colored inkwell, there’s a green bell. As you tilt the note, the bell changes color from copper to green, making it appear to disappear and reappear within the inkwell. It’s a tiny detail, but it’s incredibly expensive to mimic.
Microprinting and Raised Ink
Take your fingernail and run it up and down Ben Franklin’s shoulder. It should feel rough. Real bills are printed using intaglio printing, where the paper is pressed into engraved plates under massive pressure. This creates a distinct raised texture. Many versions of a fake money 100 dollar bill are made using inkjet or laser printers, which leave the surface feeling smooth or slightly waxy.
- Look for "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" in tiny letters on Franklin’s collar.
- Check for "USA 100" around the blank space where the watermark sits.
- Search for "100 USA" along the golden quill.
You usually need a magnifying glass to see these clearly, but if the letters are blurry or bleeding together, you’re looking at a fake. Real US currency has lines so sharp they look like they were drawn by a surgeon.
The Rise of Motion Picture Money
Not every fake money 100 dollar bill is meant to defraud the government. There is a massive market for "prop money" used in movies and music videos. The problem is that these props are often too good. While federal law requires prop money to be significantly larger or smaller than real currency, or only printed on one side, a lot of what you see on the street is "Full Print" prop money.
These bills often have "For Motion Picture Use Only" printed in small letters where the Secretary of the Treasury's signature should be. Or maybe the portrait of Franklin looks a little "off"—sometimes he’s even smiling or wearing sunglasses in the more parody-focused versions. However, in a dark bar or a fast-paced retail environment, these can easily pass. Technically, owning these isn’t always illegal, but trying to spend them is a fast track to a felony charge.
The Secret Service doesn't play around with this. Even if you "found" the money and didn't know it was a fake money 100 dollar bill, trying to use it can lead to an investigation. Basically, if it says "Prop" or "Copy" anywhere on it, keep it as a souvenir, but never put it in your wallet.
The Economic Impact of Counterfeiting
It seems like a victimless crime if a big corporation takes a fake hundred, right? Wrong.
Counterfeiting hits small businesses the hardest. If a local coffee shop accepts a fake money 100 dollar bill, they aren't just out the $5 for the latte; they are out the $95 in real change they handed back to the scammer. That’s a massive hit for a small operation.
According to the United States Secret Service, there is approximately $147 million in counterfeit currency in circulation at any given time. While that sounds like a lot, it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the trillions of real dollars. But the goal of the Treasury isn't just to stop the loss of money—it's to maintain public confidence. If people stop trusting that the cash in their hand is real, the whole system starts to wobble.
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What to Do if You Suspect a Bill is Fake
Let's say you find yourself holding a fake money 100 dollar bill. Your first instinct might be to try and spend it somewhere else to get your money back. Don't. That’s a crime. Once you know it’s fake, the "intent" to defraud is there.
Instead, you should follow these steps:
- Do not put yourself in danger. If a customer hands you a bill you think is fake, don't try to tackle them. Just delay the transaction if possible and observe their appearance.
- Handle the bill as little as possible. Put it in an envelope. This preserves any fingerprints or DNA that might be on the note.
- Contact local police or the U.S. Secret Service. They have field offices in most major cities. They will take the bill and investigate its origin.
- Note the passer's description. If they leave in a vehicle, try to get the make, model, and license plate.
You won't get a "reward" for turning in a fake money 100 dollar bill, and unfortunately, the bank won't reimburse you for the loss. It’s a total loss for the person holding the bag. This is why being proactive and checking bills before you accept them is the only real way to protect yourself.
Digital Counterfeiting and the Future
We are entering a weird era where physical cash is becoming less common, but the technology to forge it is becoming more accessible. High-end scanners and chemical aging processes are making it easier for small-time crooks to produce a "passable" fake money 100 dollar bill in their basement.
However, the Treasury is already looking ahead. We might see things like embedded RFID chips or even more complex holographic features in the next decade. For now, your best defense is simply your own eyes and fingers.
Actionable Steps for Business Owners
If you handle cash, stop relying on the pen. It's a security theater that doesn't actually work against the best fakes.
Invest in a standalone UV detector or a machine that uses magnetic ink detection (MG) and infrared (IR) scanning. These machines check for the specific magnetic properties of the ink used by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. A fake money 100 dollar bill might look right to the eye, but it will almost never have the correct magnetic signature.
Train your staff. Show them what the watermark looks like. Let them feel the difference between a real bill and a laser-printed one. Most importantly, give them the authority to refuse a bill if it feels "weird." It’s better to lose a single sale than to lose $100 and a chunk of inventory.
The reality is that as long as the $100 bill remains a symbol of wealth and stability, people will try to fake it. Staying educated on the specific security features of the 2013 Series is the only way to ensure you don't end up with a worthless piece of paper in your register. Check the ribbon, feel the jacket, and always look for the watermark.
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Practical Checklist for Every $100 Bill You Handle:
- Feel the Paper: It should be slightly rough and fibrous, never smooth or waxy.
- Tilt for the Ribbon: The blue 3D ribbon must show movement of bells and "100" digits.
- Check the Watermark: Hold it to the light; the portrait of Benjamin Franklin should be visible from both sides in the white space on the right.
- Color-Shifting Ink: The number "100" in the bottom right corner must change from copper to green when tilted.
- Find the Thread: A vertical security thread should be visible to the left of the portrait, glowing pink under UV light and reading "USA 100."
If any of these features are missing or look "flat," you are likely holding a counterfeit. Turn it over to the authorities immediately and do not attempt to put it back into circulation. Protecting the integrity of the currency is everyone's responsibility, but more importantly, protecting your own pocketbook requires a sharp eye.