Police Investigating Counterfeit Attempts in Fredericksburg

An employee at Five Below on Carl D Silver Parkway told police a female subject attempted to pay with a counterfeit $100 bill on Christmas Eve. The employee refused to accept the currency and the woman, who was accompanied by a male, left the store.

The suspect was described as a “short and stocky” black female with her hair in a bun and wearing a gray sweater. She was accompanied by a tall black male with a beard and wearing a stocking cap, according to police. The investigation is ongoing.

Another counterfeit attempt reportedly ocurred at the Jimmy John’s on Carl D Silver Parkway Dec. 23. The manager told police that two male subjects attempted to make purchases using a counterfeit $50 bill and an employee refused to accept it. The same two subjects also reportedly attempted to purchase gift cards at a nearby Radio Shack.

Both suspects are described as black males in their 20s. One was wearing a black hoodie and had short dreadlocks and the other was wearing all-black clothing and had a beanie hat with a Cowboys logo on it. The investigation is ongoing.

The incidents mark the latest in a string of attempts to pass counterfeit money in the area. Officials with the Fredericksburg Police Department and the Stafford and Spotsylvania sheriff’s offices have received 10 reports in the past two weeks from local retailers regarding attempts to pass counterfeit currency, The Free Lance-Star reports.

Similar incidents have occurred at the Shoppers Food and Pharmacy in Stafford Marketplace and Starbucks as well as two Food Lion stores, a Family Dollar and Ledo’s Pizza in Spotsylvania.