Funny money: Police warn of influx of counterfeit $100 bills

The Nevada Police Department is warning area businesses to be on the lookout for counterfeit $100 bills that have surfaced in the area and the two men they believe may be responsible for passing them.

According to a press release from the NPD, the bills are of high quality and are hard to detect. They appear to be $5 bills that have been washed and reprinted as $100 bills. Since the counterfeiters are using real money paper, money pens often used to detect counterfeit bills can't be relied upon to identify these bills. Business owners and employees must inspect the bills carefully for the security strip, holograms, water marks and proper ink to protect themselves; and if bills seem suspicious, merchants should contact police immediately for assistance in determining whether the bill is counterfeit or not.

The two men suspected of passing the bills -- one Caucasian and one African American -- were driving an older model, red, four-door, dual wheel pickup truck with a red camper shell on it.

Anyone with information on this or any other criminal activity is encouraged to call the Nevada Police Department at (417) 448-2710, or the TIPS hotline at (417) 448-5117.