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Matthew McConkey Daily Egyptian

Police have received two reports of people using counterfeit money this month at Carbondale businesses and are warning area stores to be cautious.

On Oct. 12, Police were called to Kohl's Department store for a reported forgery. Employees reported that a woman had used three counterfeit $100 bills. The bills looked like $100, police said, but had the picture of Abraham Lincoln instead of Benjamin Franklin. The woman was driven away in a white Chevrolet four-door vehicle.

Brian Bruner, personnel operations manager for Kohl's, said the report of counterfeit money is the first to happen at Kohl's since its opening in April.

A second forgery occurred on Oct. 15 at Wal-Mart, located at 1450 East Main St. Employees told police that a man paid with five fake $100 bills.

Carbondale Police Officer Randy Mathis said they believe these two incidents are unrelated but want to speak with the two individuals to find out if the bills were passed to them without their knowledge.

"There could be a common place or business where they got them from," Mathis said.

In early August, one report of forgery was reported in Carbondale. On Aug. 8, at Kroger Gas, located at 105 North Giant City Road, a counterfeit $50 bill was used to purchase gas. The employee used a counterfeit pen and found the bill to be a forgery.

After interviewing the woman who used the bill, police said she was not the person responsible for printing the money and that she also didn't know where she got the money.

"It's hard to tell where the money comes from," Mathis said.

Mathis also said the police are urging businesses and citizens to examine money to ensure it's actual U.S. minted currency.

Mathis said checking the strip, which is located on the inside, to ensure it matches the bill. He also said to check the serial numbers on different bills to make sure they aren't the same.

The woman at Kohl's is described as black female, about 30-years-old, heavyset, and was wearing sunglasses with white trim, gold earrings, a black jacket, a white T-shirt and white tennis shoes.

Reporter Matthew McConkey can be reached at matthew_mcconkey@dailyegyptian.com