Counterfeit cash used at Girl Scout cookie stands in Maryland: sheriff

ST. MARY’S COUNTY, Md. - Authorities are investigating reports that counterfeiters used fake cash to buy Girl Scout cookies at stands in southern Maryland. Deputies in St. Mary’s County say the bogus bills were passed in at least two separate booths in the area.

The scam

What we know:

The suspected fake bills were spotted when a parent was going through the cash and realized one of the $20 bills didn’t feel right. They took the bill inside a GameStop near their cookie stand where an employee confirmed it was a fake.

Images posted to the department’s Facebook page show the suspected fake $20 bills.

Counterfeit cash used at Girl Scout cookie stands in Maryland: sheriff (St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office)

Police say the two calls from the Girl Scout troops reporting the thefts came in around the same time Sunday but investigators could not definitively say if it was one person. The two troops were selling cookies about a half-mile apart.

The scheme: Pay for cookies with fake money and ask for change from the scouts, which was obviously real. Based on the fact that they were fake $20 bills and the cookies are roughly $6 per box, the maximum the thief or thieves could have gotten away with is about $15 — and the cookies.

Scouts stay resilient 

What they're saying:

One of the groups hit was Troop 10005. They are raising money to go to Europe. FOX 5 spoke with scouts Spencer Ewald and Molly Smith who said they’re frustrated but absolutely not deterred.

"I don’t know why someone would do that. Like, why would you make someone feel that way? Like, just to get your money back. That’s not very fair," Ewald said.

"I think it’s made me want to sell more. So that way, like, other girls are more motivated," Smith told FOX 5. "To see, like, we had this happen to us, and if it happens to you, you’ll be ok too, and you can keep going." 

Gloria Dempsey is one of the scout leaders who tells FOX 5 she’s sad this happened and wants whoever did this to come forward but added that she’s impressed with the resolve of these Girl Scouts.

"These are girls that are working hard to build courage, confidence and character, to set goals for themselves, to learn good business ethics skills," Dempsey said. "To think somebody would take advantage of them like that is appalling." 

A third troop called Dempsey on Monday letting them know they, too, had a counterfeit bill. Police in St. Mary’s County are continuing their investigation. Anyone with any information are encouraged to reach out.

If you'd like to support the Girl Scouts, you can purchase cookies online from Troop 10005 or Troop 10093. 

Counterfeit cash used at Girl Scout cookie stands in Maryland: sheriff (St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office)

How to spot counterfeit money

Tips from Law Enforcement:

The St. Mary’s County sheriff’s office has turned this into an educational opportunity, teaching these girls scouts how to spot fake bills.

- Feel the texture: Real bills have raised printing.

- Check for color-shifting ink: Tilt to see the color change.

- Look for watermarks & security threads

The U.S. Secret Service also has a list of tips to learn how to spot counterfeit U.S. currency:

Authorities also recommend getting a bill marker. If a bill is authentic, it will draw a lighter color. If it’s fake, the line will be darker.