OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) -- — A convicted counterfeiter from Omaha is behind bars again accused of being up to his old tricks and printing fake money. The U.S. Secret Service has tips to identify the fakes.
Frank Sadecki, 34, is arrested at the Aksarben Suites this month for 2 counts of forgery and drug possession. He's also wanted in Iowa for 8 other felony forgery warrants. Sadecki served about 2 1/2 years in prison for forgery and was released about one year ago. A search warrant indicates he had more than $1,000 in counterfeit money in his room.
The U.S. Secret Service says these criminals think it's easy money and technology has made it easier to create fake bills. The trend they see is people scanning or taking pictures of bills and printing them on home computers.
Here's how you can tell a fake; real bills have raised ink, color changing ink from green to gold, and water marks that are smooth.
"Biggest thing I say is just feel the paper, the paper's the big identifier and if you have doubts on it just pull a genuine note out and compare it to that," said Paul Brandenburg, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service.
The US Secret Service actually does not endorse using any counterfeit pens to identify if a bill is real or not. Fakes are supposed to show up with a dark brown mark and real bills would have a lighter mark with the pens, but Brandenburg says some criminals put a wax type substance on the bills so the pen will make a light mark on a fake.
If you'd like more information on how to protect your money check out the U.S. Currency Education Program.
If you'd like the local Secret Service office to train your employees on how to identify fake bills call 402-965-9670.
