Part IV: Financial Fraud · Chip, Cash & Ticket Fraud

Bleached Bill Fraud (Denomination Switching)

How it works

Sophisticated counterfeiters take genuine low-denomination bills ($1 or $5), chemically bleach them to remove the original printing while preserving the authentic paper, then reprint them as higher denominations ($100) using commercial printers. Because the paper itself is genuine U.S. currency paper, these fools many basic counterfeit detection methods — including the classic iodine-based counterfeit detection pen. The UV security strip in bleached bills will be in the wrong position for the printed denomination (e.g., a $5 bill’s strip in what appears to be a $100 bill), which is the key to detection.

Where it appears

Cage, table game buy-ins, anywhere that uses pen-based detection without UV verification

On the record

Dri Mark and other detection equipment manufacturers specifically identify casinos as prime targets for bleached bill fraud. The AGA recommends UV-equipped detection devices as standard equipment for all casino cash-handling positions.

Published as a detection reference for surveillance, compliance and gaming-operations professionals. Thresholds and tuning are set by the property. Nothing here is instruction — the method is described so it can be recognised.