Bill Features & Counterfeit Detection

Checking Large Bills

All fifties and hundreds must be approved/verified by a Manager, Director, or Executive Director. To verify a bill, you must check for the following:

A. The watermark (a matching portrait of the face on the bill, viewable when held up to light),

B. The security thread (small wording saying USA 50 or USA 100, viewable when held up to light), and

C. The color-shifting ink (the lower right 50 or 100 on the face of the bill appears to change colors when the bill is tilted at different angles).

The graphic shows where you can find these on different bills.

Additional considerations:

  • If the bill "feels off," trust your instinct and ask for another form of payment.

  • Leaders are welcome to use a counterfeit detector pen in the restaurants, but only AFTER verifying A, B, and C above. The use of a counterfeit marker is never a substitute for verifying these three bill features.

Greater security detail for all bills can be found at:

https://www.uscurrency.gov/denominations/100

https://www.uscurrency.gov/denominations/50

What to do if you are given a counterfeit bill

The safety of the team is our #1 priority. Therefore, a non-confrontational and respectful way to respond to the guest is by saying, "Unfortunately, we cannot accept this payment at this time. Do you have another form of payment you would like to use?" You may then return the suspected counterfeit to the guest as they may not be aware of its origin OR keep the form of payment if the guest leaves after asking for an alternative form of payment.

Be cautious about accepting another bill of the same denomination, but if you do, always verify it using the same instructions above.