Unalaska, AK – Counterfeit $20 bills are appearing in Unalaska. Two bills were included in bank deposits to Key Bank last Wednesday.

"It is so rare for us to come across two counterfeit bills in one day here at the bank," said Key Bank branch manager Belinda Sunderland. "And we got them from the smaller businesses here in town."

Sunderland said whoever is using them is not trying at larger businesses and she thinks the person probably has more.

"It looks like they probably have a pocketful of it and they're trying to introduce the counterfeit money into the marketplace so it can eventually get out into the federal system."

Last year, counterfeit $10 bills circulated the area. Sunderland said it's not unusual here because of the high influx of transient people. The $20 bills are very realistic but are printed on slightly shiny paper instead of the flax and linen mix used for real bills. The fakes are easily detected using a special counterfeit detection pen or by holding them up to the light.

Real bills have two distinctive characteristics. One is a security strip with the word "TWENTY" printed on it and the other is a watermark of Andrew Jackson's picture.

Sunderland stressed that community members should check out any bills before accepting cash from anyone. If you find a counterfeit bill, turn it in to the bank or to Public Safety. The fake money will be sent to the F.B.I. to help with the investigation.