Posted on 06/30/2007 7:08:39 AM PDT by Brainhose
Russian tried fake $100 bill
By Susan Nolan snolan@seacoastonline.com June 29, 2007 6:00 AM
PORTSMOUTH, NH — A Russian man attempted to pass off a phony $100 bill at the New Hampshire State Liquor store shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday, according to the store manager, who said a cashier discovered the bill was bogus.
No arrest was made, according to police, but the incident was the talk of the store because Russians are known to be staying in the city ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's scheduled visit with President Bush in Kennebunkport, Maine, on Sunday.
Liquor store manager Mike Smith said the man, accompanied by four other Russian men, attempted to purchase two bottles of Scotch whiskey with the bum $100. The cashier used a special pen to mark the bill to test its authenticity.
"It turned a color that it's not supposed to, and when he saw that, he grabbed the bill back and left," said Smith.
Portsmouth police received a call from the liquor store that the man and his friends were on foot, headed to the nearby Holiday Inn. Police responded to the scene. A dispatch message on the police scanner said diplomatic immunity might be involved.
But Police Lt. Dante Puopolo said that diplomatic immunity was not invoked because police did not make any arrests. "We have no evidence of any kind," he said. "We don't have the $100 bill."
However, he said there are currently Russians staying in town who are entitled to diplomatic immunity. "Their version of the secret service are staying here in Portsmouth," he said. Putin will arrive at the Pease Air National Guard Base on Sunday en route to his summit with Bush.
Approximately a dozen Russian men were congregated in front of the Holiday Inn shortly after the incident Thursday night. One said he spoke no English but indicated he was there in connection with the Putin visit. The men went into the Holiday Inn shortly afterward.
Nah, the Russian/Soviet security services have a long tradition of passing phony money. In ‘37 or ‘38 Heydrich’s SD passed forged docs to the NKVD implicating Marshal Tukachevsky (sp?) in treason.
The Nazis received a cool half mil or so in forged greenbacks from their Eastern colleagues. Not sure but I think some of it turned up in the hands of the sabotuers landed by u-boat on Long Island during WWII.
Most likely he'll take it back to the bank, try to get a refund. Most likely in Russia they confiscate counterfeit money, just like here, so if he's going to get a refund he needs the bill. Otherwise it's, "boo hoo, you lose" time.
Occam’s razor. It doesn’t work 100% of the time, but 99%+ is not too shabby.
Hey cool, I just came up with a new tagline for my rotation.
But that doesn’t keep you from being wrong.
Doh! My Bad
He should have looked into the man's eyes so he could see his soul, and then accepted the money. That's what W would have done.
nor you.
Got to see one there, up close and personal, as a civilian. Doubt that could happen again in this day and age.
Times were different.
Since they secure their president, it's their security team I'm talking about, not ours. Don't see anything ambiguous about using the word they. Your mileage may vary, but that's your problem.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.