SILVER CREEK — Stephen Promber, co-owner and operator of Can Kings Redemption Centers, and his wife, were greeted with an interesting sight on Thursday morning.

“Shortly before 9 a.m. we were travelling down Route 20 near Irving, where one of our stores is, when we saw about 15 cars stopped on the road, grabbing stuff,” Promber stated. “When we slowed down we saw a split open bag of trash in the middle of the road, just before Valvo’s.”

According to Promber, pouring out of the bag was what he and his wife estimated to be about $200,000 in $20 bills, which after closer inspection turned out to be counterfeit.

The bills were scattered by wind around a 300-yard radius and people were out of their cars gathering fistfuls of “cash,” according to Promber.

“We collected about $7,000 of the stuff and it took us around 10 minutes to realize it was fake.” Promber went on. “The notes felt very real and it looked good. It wasn’t until we saw the word “REPLICA” written in the corner did we know it wasn’t; it’s no wonder people thought it was real.”

Promber quickly called the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and informed them of the fake currency as well as alerting them to apparent envelopes, with names and addresses, that remained in the torn garbage bag.

Police collected the evidence, but no one is certain how many people had picked up the “money” thinking it was real, and ended up entering in into circulation.

“All I can picture happening is somebody stuffing a few of those into a group of real $20s and a cashier counting them quickly, not noticing,” Promber added.

The OBSERVER spoke with the Sheriff’s Office Thursday afternoon and they are still investigating.

An analysis of the notes, when compared side-by-side, turns up lots of tell-tale signs of the forgery.

On the front of the note:

¯ The top border reads “Federate Replica Note” as opposed to “Federal Reserve Note” found on real bills.

¯ “REPLICA” is stamped above the serial number on the left upper corner as well as the lower right corner.

¯ The crest, which is different, on the left side reads “We are United” as opposed to “United States Federal Reserve System”

¯ The small print below the seal on the fake says “This note is not legal, It is to be used for motion pictures”

¯ Below the signature on the left side it says “Not the real secretary”

¯ “REPLICA” is printed below Jackson’s portrait instead of his name.

¯ The front has a typo in States and reads “The United Sates of America”

¯ The seal on the word “Twenty” is different.

¯ “This is not the treasury” is written below the signature on the right.

On the back of the note:

¯ The same States typo as on front is printed across the top.

¯ There are two flags flying over the White House.

¯ “REPLICA” is printed below the White House.

¯ Little yellow 20s are missing

Also overall the font for “The United States of America” is different. The counterfeits say they are from series 2017 and should have the serial number KP 558247039 Y.

If any of these bills are found, please turn them into your local police department.