Island County Sheriff Warns Whidbey Businesses About Unsubstantiated $150,000 Counterfeit Cash Tip

Island County Sheriff Mark Brown alerted businesses on Whidbey Island after receiving a confidential informant tip that as much as $150,000 in counterfeit bills may be moving through the island. The advisory, issued January 23, was framed as a proactive notice to increase vigilance among merchants and other cash-handling establishments.

Sheriff Mark Brown emphasized the tip is unsubstantiated. The sheriff’s office says it has no verified information about where the counterfeit bills might originate, what denominations are involved, or the quality of the suspected fakes. No active investigation had confirmed the rumor as of the advisory, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office offered practical guidance for businesses that handle cash. If a business receives a suspected counterfeit bill, staff are advised to call 911 and try to delay the person who passed the bill without putting themselves in danger. The office specifically cautioned against attempting to physically restrain or confront a suspect. Standard counterfeit-detection techniques were recommended: look for the security thread, watermark, color-shifting ink, and raised printing. The release also noted counterfeit-detection pens or machines can be useful if available.

Businesses that encounter suspected counterfeit currency are asked to preserve the bill if possible and report the incident to law enforcement. The sheriff’s office provided additional guidance and resources on identifying counterfeit bills and encouraged owners and managers to review procedures for handling and reporting suspicious cash transactions.

The advisory has particular implications for Island County’s small businesses, farmers markets, and other enterprises that rely on cash transactions. A sudden influx of counterfeit notes could impose financial losses and administrative burdens on local merchants who must verify, preserve, and report suspect bills. For local civic and business organizations, the bulletin underscores the importance of staff training and clear incident-response protocols.

The sheriff’s notice is intended to raise awareness rather than to signal confirmed criminal activity. Island County residents and business operators should treat the advisory as a prompt to refresh counterfeit-detection practices, secure cash handling procedures, and ensure employees know how to contact law enforcement safely. The sheriff’s office said it would update the community if the tip is substantiated or if investigators develop additional details.