10 Ways to Spot a Fake Bill—Before You Get Duped

Get a feel for it

One of the first things you might notice about a counterfeit bill is that it just feels…off. “They tend to be more glossy or have a more smooth feel,” says Trent Everett, Secret Service assistant to special agent in charge overseeing counterfeit operations. Unlike the cotton-linen blend that real dollars are made of, fake bills are often made of high-quality paper, says Susan Fortunato, supervisory counterfeit specialist for the Secret Service. (Don’t miss these 9 things you never knew about the Secret Service.)