calling mythbusters

Replies: 12 - Last Post: 22-Dec-2007 05:32 Last Post By: ejpiii

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funk_e

19-Dec-2007 17:38
Posts: 410

calling mythbusters

In a number of countries, tourists ahe been advised not to bring in US$ with serial numbers starting with CB.
The myth is that a printing plate was stolen from the US Mint that I assume had the "CB" hardwired into it. So is this a myth or did it rteally happen?

Willysnout

19-Dec-2007 18:11
Posts: 6,125

Oh Christ, I guess my days of high living are over. Does anyone know of a good hostel in San Francisco for $15 or less? Lunch for $3, tops?

Life's a bitch, and then it has puppies

gawkabout

19-Dec-2007 21:23
Posts: 5,098

ymca. now willy, you´ve been there!

qwovadis

20-Dec-2007 00:05
Posts: 16,722

Counterfeiting of the Currency of the United States is widely attempted. According to the United States Department of Treasury, an estimated 70 million counterfeit dollars are believed to be in circulation, or approximately $1 in counterfeits for every $12,500 in genuine currency.

2001 CB-B2 series $100 bill, issued 2001

In 2005, Peruvian Banks ceased to accept $100 bills from the series CB-B2, issued in 2001. The Peruvian media reported that the notes were so well made that they were "perfect fakes." The differences between them and genuine bills are very small and difficult to detect [1]. According to Peruvian news reports, a printing plate from the U.S. mint was stolen by a Pakistani mafioso, with possible links to al-Qaeda, and the plate was used to produce the counterfeit bills.[2]

it is what it is...
it will be what it will be...
acceptance is the answer...
flexibility the key...

ianw6705

20-Dec-2007 00:28
Posts: 32,118

If they are "perfect fakes", then let them circulate - no worries.

Indonesia and Thailand certainly have a ban on those notes (and they don't like crumpled ones either - want them crispy). But really, does any serious tourist take cash money with them these days? ATMs will do the job just about everywhere. It's interesting that developing countries have satellite TV and electronic banking, before they have clean water and secure sewerage systems. Priorities I guess.

And Willy you should cash in the car and take the Green Tortoise as well. Make sure you wear you're "I'm old but trust me I'm not a paedophile." badge.

Off the Couch - My Travel Albums since 2000

CSL

20-Dec-2007 04:09
Posts: 198

Here's the news story from TWENTY MONTHS AGO:

www.csmonitor.com/2005/0414/p10s01-woam.htm

Amazing that any intelligent person would believe or repeat the story that a Pakistani criminal organization would be able to steal something that valuable, while an American criminal organization would not be able to do so.

CSL

20-Dec-2007 04:14
Posts: 198

Oops! Hit the Enter key rapidly. Should have said "32 months ago."

NYRed

20-Dec-2007 08:41
Posts: 915

Considering that my local grocery store yesterday accepted a $10 that was marked with black Sharpie, ripped in half and mended with tape, I don't think you'll have a problem using anything that looks like US currency within the US.

johnsang

20-Dec-2007 15:08
Posts: 191

I just got turned down on using a $100 bill in a local store (in the state of Jefferson). They said management had warned of fake bills being around. We still accept them in our store.

"Certainly the game is rigged, Don't let that stop you; if you don't bet you can't win."

NYRed

21-Dec-2007 01:50
Posts: 915

There is no state called Jefferson. Please, choose your state from this convenient list when you make up your story. (Weird.)

BubbaK

21-Dec-2007 03:27
Posts: 4,800

Passive voice (e.g., tourists ahe (sic) been advised) is useful, since you can just state something without giving any attribution. Tourists have been advised by who?

erebus

21-Dec-2007 08:37
Posts: 296

The plates used to print money are only one of a raft of anti-counterfeiting measures used in U.S. currency. The paper is special, and so is the ink (it has a magnetic 'signature'.) There are machines that scan money at high speed and look for about a dozen telltales. To make a truly undetectable counterfeit bill would cost a lot of money.

ejpiii

22-Dec-2007 05:32
Posts: 1,939

And yet its the most counterfeited currency in history. We can only hope the Euro's success takes a little pressure off the ol' greenback.

Ed

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