More info on using $100.00 bills in CR

Irish Drifter · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:51 am

From A.M. Costa Rica 6/22/05:

Quote:

Bank tellers are getting nervous over $100 U.S. bills

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Costa Rican banks are refusing to accept $100 U.S. notes for fear they are actually high-quality fakes.

Several U.S. citizens reported that Banco Nacional and Banco de Costa Rica have been vigorously checking $100 notes for weeks. But one resident said Tuesday he was unable to negotiate $1,200 in $100 bills at any bank in the city.

The suspect bills carry the serial number that includes the letters CB-B2 and the issue date of 2001.

A U.S. Embassy spokesperson said that officials there have not had any reports of bad bills. But the spokesperson also said that the U.S. Secret Service visited Costa Rica recently and gave training to bank officials and staff, Judicial Investigating Organization personnel, as well as embassy cashiers and other staff on how to identify counterfeit and authentic U.S. currency.

The fake bills appear to have come from Colombia
where counterfeiting is an art form. Problems have been reported with the fake $100 notes throughout South America for two months, beginning in Peru.

The bulk of the money with the suspicious CB-B2 is legitimate currency because those are real serial numbers from actual bills.

Two weeks ago a teller at Banco Nacional took a $100 bill, gave a customer a receipt for it and then vanished into the back offices for 20 minutes. He returned to declare the bill genuine and accepted it as part of a transaction.

But Tuesday a reader reported that banks had refused to accept the U.S. currency.

The $100 U.S. banknote is the largest denomination bill in general use. Most expats keep their money in dollars because of the continual devaluation of the Costa Rican colon. The $100 and the $50 bills are preferred ways of transporting the cash. The fake $100 bills are said to have subtle differences by which one can distinguish a bad bill from

Gringo Malo · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:56 am

Thanks...I just went through my Costa Rica Weasel Sack and found 2 with CB in the beginning of the serial number. Look legitimate..but I will exchange them for others just to be on the safe side.

Rolex · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:46 pm

I don't have that "criminal mindset" ... so for those of you with more devious minds (or those of you who actually watch CSI) ... wouldn't it be a lot easier to counterfeit CR colones instead of U.S. dollars? (Or practically any other country's currency, for that matter?)

Osgood · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2005 6:06 pm

fake colones are about in costa rica, i.ve heard of people getting a 1000 colones fake, in change at stores,cb is a common serial no..... in $100 bill's,i would go with $50's for now..............

Irish Drifter · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2005 6:32 pm

Quote:

wouldn't it be a lot easier to counterfeit CR colones instead of U.S. dollars?

The problem with counterfeiting colones is that the largest bill is 10000 colones, only about $21.00. It is easier to print one phony $100.00 than five 10000 colones notes to achieve the same monetary reward.

You will also see that just about every cashier will check 5000 and 10000 colones notes under a black light.

Circus · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2005 7:34 pm

YO DD:
Yes Sir, my crack staff headed by Andy, the gut bucket man, has been working all week printing up 500 colone bills so they don't suspect anything. I know success when I see it.

Rolex · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2005 7:39 pm

I still haven't been able to figure out what you guys mean by a "gut bucket"?

What the hell is that?

PacoLoco · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2005 7:52 pm

It's a complex musical instrument Rolex, where are you from?
There's a pic of gut-bucket guy in the gallery somewhere, he's a celebrity in the gulch but not as popular as the old Tuba player...
https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2419

Irish Drifter · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2005 8:20 pm

Circus,

Great move. As usual you are light years ahead of us. How many can I buy? I understand the usual rate for buying counterfeit is .10 on the $. If that is true can easily handle $5.00 worth.

If you feel more comfortable PM me with details of when we can meet.

Witling · **Joined:** Sun Oct 12, 2003 4:50 pm **Posts:** 3822

Study the ways to tell the real bills from the fakes.

Pay particular attention to #3.
http://www.moneyfactory.com/section.cfm/4/32/322

http://www.moneyfactory.com/newmoney/?

WilliamWalker · **Joined:** Wed Sep 10, 2003 3:31 pm **Posts:** 120

Went to the bank yesterday and started changing my $100 bills to $50 bills for my next trip.

Buzzfla · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2005 10:52 am

They take $100 bills but make sure they are not from the year 2001 and B2 serial. Last trip in May had a little trouble with them. But they will take all others.

Irish Drifter · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2005 12:16 pm

Buzzfla wrote:

Quote:

Last trip in May had a little trouble with them. But they will take all others.

From what was written in the news article it seems there has been a change in bank policy since you were here.

Why put up with the hassle just carry $50's.

Lovelatinas · **Joined:** Wed Aug 27, 2003 6:43 pm **Posts:** 158

Depends where you spend them. Casinos and banks will bust balls about the bills in question, as will some savvy Colombian hookers. Other than that, there arent' many problems with them.

LVSteve · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2005 8:48 pm

A little twist on this topic:
About 4 weeks ago, I returned from a trip up north and went straight to my favorite casino, the Paradisio. Won a lot and was paid in 10,000 colone notes. Next day, I asked for change at the Raddison and the cashire told me my bill was "falso". Took it to the Paradisio and guess what, they exchanged it for me! Anyway, point is that there is a ring down here printing 10,000 colones notes.
LVSteve

www.CostaRicaTicas.com

More info on using $100.00 bills in CR

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