WASHINGTON (7News) — Thousands of counterfeit U.S. dollars, known as “black money,” were recently seized from an Indonesian traveler who entered Dulles International Airport last Wednesday, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials. It was done.
Several bundles of fake money disguised as blank paper were found in the bag of 50-year-old Touma Thierry Henry, who arrived at Dulles from Lomé, Togo. Officials said the bundle contained 285 sheets of paper that looked like real $100 bills when exposed to ultraviolet light.
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Henry had black money fraud notes totaling approximately $28,500. He was taken into custody by Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority officers, while the counterfeit money was seized by CBP.
Officials say the scam works by lacing paper with real money, with the scammers instructing victims to chemically alter the paper to reveal U.S. currency. Of course, the money is fake, but officials said it can be detected under a black light or ultraviolet light before it changes chemically.
Officials said the perpetrators said the banknotes were dyed to evade detection by customs authorities.
“We know that unscrupulous criminal organizations continue to engage in financial schemes like this black money scam to deceive, defraud, and harm the American public,” said Mark E. Calixto, CBP’s Washington, D.C. District Port Director. We need to remind the public.” , in a statement.
