Ms. Nona Burke, Secret Service Agent in the Tyler Office, explains the many features of U.S. Currency to identify
to make certain that it is genuine.

 

Downtown Business Alliance Hears
Program on Conterfeit Money,
Monday Night

 

By: Bobby McDonald

 

Members of the Sulphur Springs Downtown Business Alliance met at Plain and Fancy Sandwich Shoppe, on Monday night, for their regular meeting, and heard a very informative program on "The Secret Service Branch of Our Government." Speaker for the program was Secret Service Agent Nona Burke, of the Tyler Office, which covers 24 counties in Northeast Texas, including Hopkins County.

"Our organization is one of the oldest agencies in the U.S. Government and we're charged with the mission of policing counterfeiting and fraud in currency and protecting the U.S. President and Vice-President, Foreign dignitaries, and other higher ranking government officials," stated Ms. Burke. "Ironically, President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill authorizing our department, on the day he was assasinated in 1865. But, we didn't receive the mission to protect the president until 1901, when President William McKinnley was assasinated."

"By the end of the Civil War, nearly one-third of all U.S. currency in circulation was counterfeit," denoted Burke. "At that time in history, local banks printed their own currency and notes and counterfeiting was rampant, so President Lincoln and Congress agreed that a national currency needed to be implemented and our agency was formed to work undercover, to insure that currency had value."

 

 

Burke explained that as the years have progressed the agency must continue to keep abreast of the technology that counterfeiters use. "Most people talk about 'paper money,' but our U.S. currency is not made of paper," stated Burke. "U.S. currency is made of cotton and linen and the money that is being printed today is of the highest quality, with a number of new, added security features!"

Burke presented demonstrations on the new security features on 5's, 10's, 20's, 50's, and 100 dollar bills. Features include: watermarks, a variety of colors in the printing ink, color-shifting ink, microprinting, serial numbers, and security threads. "We're taught and advocate to the businessman and consumer that there are thousands of things that people can do to counterfeit money, but if you know the genuine article, that is the easiest way to denote the fake!" exclaimed Burke. "Our office in Tyler receives thousands of dollars worth of counterfeit money from banks, each week. Some of it is actually conterfeit and some of it is worn, bleached, or defaced in some way, but is actually the real currency. We're trained to detect the difference and search for those who are out passing counterfeit bills!"

 

Secret Service Agent Nona Burke, who is a 20 year veteran with the department, answered a
number of questions from local business owners, at Monday night's presentation.

 

Burke warned local business owners that the "pens" that are used widely to identify counterfeit money are not "fool-proof" and always accurate. "I'm not a proponent of using the pens," stated Burke. "First, it is technically illegal to deface money, using them, and I've seen them fail in too many cases, to identify counterfeit money!"

In a question and answer period, Burke also warned business owners that if they receive counterfeit bills that they are the ones that lose. The bills will be removed and turned over to her office, if they are detected in a deposit made at the bank and will be deducted from the deposit.

Burke further warned that during times of joblessness and economic hard times, counterfeiting is usually on the rise. "And, it seems like that counterfeiting will go in 'sprees,' through an area," stated Burke. "A group of bills will be detected in a community where those passing them move into a hotel and hit every convenience store, restaurant, and small business up and down the street, and move onto another area."

Burke also warned the group about a number of "scams" involving wire transfers and other "high tech" fraud, that seems to be on the rise. "Several banks in Austin, San Antonio, and even Tyler, have experienced credit card fraud scams, recently," advised Burke. "Everyone must be vigilant in being cautious and anytime something seems 'too good to be true," it probably is!"

 

 

The other mission of the Secret Service is to protect the president, vice-president, foreign dignataries, and their families. Burke allowed that she worked for the Bush Teams and even was part of the team that came to Sulphur Springs when one of President George W. Bush's daughters was involved in a local wedding. She explained why streets are closed to neighborhoods where former presidents live. "It's as much for the other neighbors as it is for the former president and his family, as you would be surprised at the number of people that just want to drive by and see where the former president is living," explained Burke. "If such measures are not taken, there would be a stream of traffic 24/7 just driving by the residence!"

Burke allowed that the Secret Service is always looking for outstanding individuals in recruitment efforts and left a number of brochures for those interested in working for the Secret Service. Individuals must be from 21 to 37 years of age and pass a number of tests and examinations to gain employment. Burke's office is located on South Broadway in Tyler and anyone interested in the criteria can obtain a brochure or contact the office for information.

"We want to thank Agent Burke for a very, very informative program," expressed Rita Edwards, Chairman of the Dowtown Business Alliance. I think everyone obtained some very useful information about her agency and detecting counterfeit currency in their daily conducting of business!"

 

_____