Verifying Currency Serial Numbers

Question: I heard that there is a web site that you can check the serial number of a suspected counterfeit bill. If there is, please let me know.

Answer: We went to the Secret Service, and to the best of their knowledge, there is not a web site available to check legitimate currency serial numbers. The US Secret Service can check serial numbers if you call them, but the serial numbers used on counterfeits are usually legitimate numbers, so checking it this way may not be conclusive. They indicated they would not be able to handle a heavy call volume from retailers. Very occasionally they will print the number of a frequently counterfeited bill on their web site in the form of an alert.

Copyright © 2005 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 14, No. 11, 1/05