'Pawn Stars': Client's Counterfeit Money Makes Rick Uncomfortable (VIDEO)

You have to have a keen eye to be successful in a pawn shop. Rick Harrison picked up the nickname "The Spotter" because he can identify whether or not an item is authentic pretty quickly. On the latest "Pawn Stars" (Mon., 10PM ET on History), his eye was put to the test when an earnest seller brought in what he believed was a counterfeit ten-dollar bill.

"All American currency, they throw a silk rag in with the paper," Harrison explained to the man. "So if you pick up a bill and you look at it closely, you'll see little red and blue lines all over it. If that's not there, it's not real."

The bill the man brought in was indeed counterfeit, but there was still a problem. "I don't even think it's legal to own this thing," Harrison said. Certainly it wasn't something he could buy. He suggested instead that the man turn the bill over to the Secret Service.

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Comments

[quovadiszero]

02:37 PM on 12/22/2011

Rick has no backbone.

[DonCosenza]

10:32 AM on 12/22/2011

Speaking of counterfeit, I wonder how much payola was involved to get this "story" on the site.

[johnpoplawski]

12:34 PM on 12/21/2011

why is everyone bitching about obama here? we all know he needs to go, remember to vote republican to help restore a status quo that is sustainable. that being said, i enjoy pawn stars and always seem to learn something on every show. most reality shows are crap, but this one does redeem itself and rick seems like a guy you could have a beer with (not obama).

[TexasMike]

04:09 AM on 12/22/2011

Vote republican if you like liars. It's not surprising you like this show. It's a show about scummy scam artists who rip off customers...just the kind of 'screw you ' mindset a lousy republican would like.

[Menifee Ca]

12:08 PM on 12/22/2011

TexasMike you are a fool if you believe just Republicans lie. ALL politicians lie. Keep falling in line with your foolish ways. Not only are you not properly informed about the true meaning of life events, you believe the lies told to you.

[gn32olds]

11:52 AM on 12/27/2011

VOTE DEMOCRATIC IF YOU LIKE THE SOCIALISTIC SOVIET UNION STYLE. Where mother Russia will take care of all it's comrades equally, no matter how hard one works, or doesn't work. And if you complain, or make a profit, you will go to prison.

[Rob2tall]

12:14 PM on 12/21/2011

Rick is correct>

Possession of counterfeit United States obligations with fraudulent intent is a violation of Title 18, Section 472 of the United States Code and is punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to 15 years, or both.

Anyone who manufactures a counterfeit U.S. coin in any denomination above five cents is subject to the same penalties as all other counterfeiters. Anyone who alters a genuine coin to increase its numismatic value is in violation of Title 18, Section 331 of the United States Code, which is punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to five years, or both.

Forging, altering, or trafficking in United States Government checks, bonds or other obligations is a violation of Title 18, Section 510 of the United States Code and is punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.

Printed reproductions, including photographs of paper currency, checks, bonds, postage stamps, revenue stamps, and securities of the United States and foreign governments (except under the conditions previously listed) are violations of Title 18, Section 474 of the United States Code. Violations are punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to 15 years, or both.

[icstars]

09:50 AM on 12/22/2011

So, it's okay if you don't have fraudulent intent.

[fisher2737]

02:58 AM on 12/28/2011

YES it absolutely "OK"

[John 99point99percenter]

12:09 PM on 12/23/2011

So, what is the penalty for counterfeiting a coin of 5 cents or less?

[fisher2737]

03:01 AM on 12/28/2011

"IF" you produce it but never take out out of the house with the ( intent ) of passing fraudulent currency? NO penalty Mke all you want, just keep them inside your house, NOwhere else

[cruzzer101]

07:26 AM on 12/21/2011

The way the economy is going - a counterfei­t is going to be worth more than the real thing, if only for its collector's value . . .

[Rob2tall]

12:23 PM on 12/21/2011

the value to a collector can be worth up to 15 years in a federal prison
its not worth it!
A guy I used to work with back in the mid 1980s decided to make copies of a $50 bill with a high tech Xerox copier and as a joke tried to use it to buy drinks at a local bar-as it turned out the bar was owned by a former sheriff and he noticed it was a fake and asked him if he was sure he wanted to pay with it and he said yes-about half an hour later as he was enjoying his Long Island ice tea the FBI arrived at the bar and he was arrested-he ended up in jail for 2 years with 5 years probation for counterfeiting as he had about 10 of his fakes in his wallet-all had the same serial number.
Pretty dumb for a programmer who was earning over $50k a year in 1983.
The feds told him in the bar that having it in his possession alone was a federal crime and he could get 5 to 10 years in prison.
If you ever find what looks like a fake-you may consider turning it over to a bank before hanging it on your wall

[fisher2737]

03:05 AM on 12/28/2011

about 40 years ago i knew a person who worked in a photo shop. they got a machine down in the basement and were making $20 bills someone spilled the beans, told the FBI that these guys had $200,000 in the trunk of their car at Bradley International Airport at Windsor Locks Ct. Evidently were going to take it overseas. Got caught, spent 6 months at Danbury State Prison i have NO idea how much probation they got. I remember his name but can't/won't give it here.

[vdgill]

06:00 AM on 12/21/2011

its always the little who gets hurt with fakes of any kind

[harrybugs]

05:37 AM on 12/21/2011

NYC, I got stuck with 2 tens last year. A food street vendor in China Town threw one of my bills in the air saying it was a bad ten. Looking closer at my money I spotted another. So discussed that I tore them both tens up and threw them in the sewer. Lessons learned.

[ginocat55]

04:56 AM on 12/21/2011

Clearly,.. Obama's fault !!

[Midnight Magpie]

04:27 AM on 12/21/2011

Which is more of a phony - - the ten dollar bill or Rick?

[sokul1]

02:55 AM on 12/21/2011

can you please stop auto play your videos

[ToriaCove]

04:45 PM on 12/21/2011

I've been clicking on the Kathy Griffin video ALL DAY but thanks to auto play, I can't seem to get to it.

[MrDoughnut]

02:06 AM on 12/21/2011

At least IOUs are real!

[MrDoughnut]

02:05 AM on 12/21/2011

No more counterfeit than the last jobs report

[jms0764]

01:53 AM on 12/21/2011

You have it all wrong BIG. The Fed does NOT print money. The Bureau of Engraving, which is part of the Treasury Department prints money. You're also wrong about the Fed. Bank's don't lend money to the government, the Fed lends money to banks on a daily basis based on the bank's liquidity and ability to meet it's cash needs each day. The rate that the Fed charges the banks is called the Fed Funds Rate. Maybe you should brush up on your facts before you go blowing off your BIG MOUTH.

[saxmanj1]

02:05 AM on 12/21/2011

How much does the Treasury Department charge the Fed for the money?

[whoknew222]

02:26 AM on 12/21/2011

This is definitely not the old days when you deposited your money in a bank and actually got your own money back. (Much like a safe deposit box.) Or even brought in gold from mining and got currency in return. Now they sell you that currency. I love it when they say they found a cache of really old coins that were never distributed that are available for sale. It's not like they destroy the old, etchings, plates, molds, etc... They sure do know how to make and take one's money.

[dylanlewis89]

03:23 AM on 12/21/2011

not to mention its still worth the same. unless your a collector, i think melting it down is a fed crime right? so a pure 1905 gold dollar coin (prolly not real, just for a points sake) is still just a buck as far as currency goes right? unless your some collector willing to pay 1000 bucks for one dollar...

[jenjenjenjen]

02:15 AM on 12/21/2011

lmfao

[anitafeeney]

04:47 AM on 12/21/2011

and WHAT exactly does this have to do with the article at hand absolutely NOTHING if you want to go on a political rant that is fine you are free to rant and rave all you want untill your heart is content but feel free to do it somewhere else there are PLENTY of political forums you can go to and rant to your hearts content so go there better yet put your money where your mouth is get up out of that chair pull yourself away from the computer get up and DO SOMETHING about it if you are so unhappy with the state of things

[saywha]

01:45 PM on 12/21/2011

Ron L. and his tea bagger ilk must turn everything into a vehicle for them to spew their irrational hatred of President Obama. It makes you wonder what in heaven's name did they do before this President took office? I'm sure someone had to be the target of their venom 'cause that's really who they are. What a truly pathetic bunch. Hey Ron, GO GET A LIFE!

[BIGTERRA]

12:35 AM on 12/21/2011

The way Obama has been nhaving the Fed print money, pretty soon conterfit money will be worth more than the money being printed.

By the way, The Federal Reserve system is NOT a government agency. The only thig "Federal" about it is its name. The Fed is a group of PRIVATE banks. One of their activities is to print money. It is then LOANED to the government and the government (meaning us) pays interest on that money.


Weird isn't it?

[katjan68]

01:04 AM on 12/21/2011

Yeah, and it is time they were audited!

[icewomancometh]

02:20 AM on 12/21/2011

I don't know why your comment to me was removed, but here's my answer regarding Obama

In your opinion, and until those like you can get over the fact that your thoughts and ideas are NOT the center of the universe, we can get to the real problems. I have my own issues with the health care bill, but look at it for what it is and what it will mean for you, me and the country, not just a centerpiece for argument sake. For a guy as bright as Obama, agree with him or not, you do yourself a disservice regarding any reasonable points you might make by calling him an affirmative action president. That might hold weight in your circles, but you have to back that stuff up in an open forum, and you have not. Pretending like the recession didn't start at the end of 2007 and then culminated in Sep 2008 is not being honest with yourself

[BIGTERRA]

09:59 AM on 12/21/2011

perhaos you should look at a little history

http://www­.americanr­ationale.c­om/Financi­al-crisis.­html