Currency Fraud

CURRENCY fraud is the production or manufacturing of paper money and coins, without the right to do so, replicating currency already circulating within the economy with the purpose of deceiving and defrauding, or genuine paper currency which has been altered to increase its face value. One of the first episodes in American history involving the production of fraudulent paper currency occurred during the American Revolution. In 1775, the Continental Congress issued $242 million in Continental currency to finance the Revolutionary War. The British, however, were able to replicate this currency and began distributing it throughout the American colonies.

As a result, the currency issued by the Continental Congress rapidly depreciated and was soon deemed worthless giving rise to the phrase “not worth a Continental.” Subsequently, the ...