The Kaua‘i Police Department is raising the alarm about a spate of counterfeit cash circulating around the island. In response to 14 incidents reported since the beginning of the year, Assistant Chief Kalani Ke is urging the local population and business owners to stay alert and informed. "We encourage anyone who suspects they have received counterfeit money to report it to the police immediately,” Ke said, as reported by the official Kaua‘i government website. The prompt actions of the community are critical in helping law enforcement tackle the proliferation of these bogus bills.
Among the preventive advice floated by the KPD is boosting one's knowledge of the real McCoy—understanding the watermarks and security threads that distinguish genuine currency from fakes. For larger bills, they recommend using a counterfeit detection pen or ultraviolet light to confirm authenticity. However, counterfeits aren't picky and could be passed off in any denomination, so the department suggests that a wide swath of vigilance is necessary for both public and private sectors. In this situation, the police believe that instincts could be as good an ally as any tool, encouraging a touch of suspicion and the procurement of alternative payment methods when doubt arises about a bill's legitimacy.
The importance of education on this matter cannot be understated. "Educate Staff and Family Members: Train employees to recognize counterfeit bills and establish transaction protocols. Educate your family about the potential risks of fraudulent currency," the Kaua‘i government's official stance is clear. There's value in making sure that everyone, from personnel spinning the tills to folks managing family finances, can spot the signs of a counterfeit.
For those who've had the misfortune of crossing paths with counterfeit currency, or are in possession of information that could lead to the culprits, the KPD has provided a channel for reporting. The public is prompted to call KPD Dispatch at 808-241-1722, while the anonymity-preferring tipsters can reach out to Crime Stoppers Kaua‘i at 808-246-8300, or visit cskauai.org. In this day and age, there's also an app for that—information can be submitted through the Crime Stoppers Kaua‘i P3 Tips Mobile App, ensuring that all corners are covered in this community effort to weed out the financial fakers impacting Kaua‘i.
