Mikhail Dikler
Aliyev GusyenOCEAN CITY, Md.— Ocean City police arrested two Brooklyn, N.Y., men Thursday night for trying to buy items with counterfeit $100 bills.
Officers said they responded to the area of 7th Street and Philadelphia Avenue at around 8:45 p.m. for a report of two suspects who had just passed a counterfeit $100 bill. Police said employees had detained one suspect, while the other had fled.
A few minutes later, police said they received another call from a business on 4th Street and Atlantic Avenue about a suspect attempting to pass a counterfeit $100 bill. Police said the employee determined the bill was fake and stalled the suspect until officers arrived.
Investigators said 28-year-old Gusyen Aliyev and 29-year-old Mikhail E. Dikler, both of Brooklyn, N.Y., had been using a counterfeit $100 bill to purchase a nominal item in local businesses. The high-quality counterfeit bill would yield the suspects more than $90 in real U.S. currency.
Police said officers recovered 16 counterfeit $100 bills and seized about $5,000 in actual U.S. currency, believed to be the proceeds of these counterfeiting crimes.
Aliyev and Dikler were charged with multiple counts of possession of counterfeit, the issuing of counterfeit, and theft and were held on $35,000 bond.
Police are offering the following tips to detect suspicious or counterfeit currency:
- The genuine portrait appears lifelike and stands out distinctly from the background. The counterfeit portrait is usually lifeless and flat. Details merge into the background, which is often too dark or mottled.
- On a genuine bill, the saw-tooth points of the Federal Reserve and Treasury seals are clear, distinct and sharp. The counterfeit seals may have uneven, blunt or broken saw-tooth points.
- Genuine serial numbers have a distinctive style and are evenly spaced. The serial numbers are printed in the same ink color as the Treasury Seal. On a counterfeit, the serial numbers may differ in color or shade of ink from the Treasury seal. The numbers may not be uniformly spaced or aligned.
Police are asking that residents and businesses contact the department if suspicious currency is found. In addition, the department reminds businesses and community groups that a crime prevention officer is available to conduct counterfeit awareness presentations upon appointment through the Public Affairs Office.
For further information on detecting counterfeit U. S. currency, visit the United States Secret Service Web site at: http://www.secretservice.gov/know_your_money.shtml
