THOMASVILLE, Ga. — Counterfeit money passed at a Thomasville business was funny in nature but not the consequences.

The $20 and $10 bills passed at Dunkin’ Donuts, 2710 E. Pinetree Blvd., obviously were fake, according to authorities.

The $10 bill appeared to be two different bills blended into one bill, according to a Thomasville Police Department (TPD) incident report. The $20 bill did not feel like normal currency paper.

An employee detected the bills while counting store currency.

TPD verifies suspected counterfeit bills through the U.S. Secret Service, said Maj. Wade Glover, TPD public information officer.

In some cases, he said, counterfeit bills are knowingly passed by individuals, adding, however, that many times people do not realize they received bogus bills in change.

Often, a counterfeit bill is not detected until cash from a business is taken to a bank.

A ring of counterfeiters might infiltrate several counties and create an area problem, Glover said.

‘It’s a long, lengthy process,” he said, in reference to tracking down counterfeiters.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820