Fake $20s Used to Buy Girl Scout Cookies From Brownie Troop
Washington troop cheated out of $100 after funny money used to buy cookies, 16 other troops targeted
by Sara Bonisteel/ Photo by aka Kath/flickr
A Washington State Brownie troop was cheated out of $100 after someone bought Girl Scout cookies with fake $20 bills.
KC Gettings, leader of Troop 40411 in Bremerton, Wash., discovered the fake bills on Feb. 28 when she took the cookie money to a local bank, King5.com reports.
Kate Rocks-Brigati of the Girl Scouts of Western Washington tells AOL Food that 17 troops found counterfeit money among their earnings.
"Apparently, the counterfeiters thought the Girl Scout cookie sale was an easy target," Rocks-Brigati said. "What they found instead, was the girls and leaders, in true Girl Scout fashion, were resourceful and helped to identify the thieves."
The troops use the money they earn from the sale of the $4 boxes of Tagalongs, Samoas and Thin Mints to take camping trips and excursions to the zoo and pool.
Gettings was told two of the bills she took to the bank were phony, and when she used a counterfeit detection pen, she discovered $60 more in fake bills, the station said.
But the Brownie troop did get some satisfaction. On Monday, police told King5 that four people were arrested on counterfeit charges after an 18-year-old man tried to pass off the funny money at a Rite-Aid.
"The lesson is not to steal, not to make fake stuff," Sylvia Swanson, a 7-year-old member of the troop told King5.
Gettings said the girls will get a tour of the police station and will earn a fraud badge.
"We're going to teach the girls about fraud and more about the criminals and stuff that is going on," the troop leader told the station.
And Girl Scout officials said safety was a priority for the young girls.
"Law enforcement has given the girls guidelines to help them feel safe during cookie sales," Rocks-Brigati said. "It is sad that girls as young as 6 have to learn about crime first hand."
Washington troop cheated out of $100 after funny money used to buy cookies, 16 other troops targeted
by Sara Bonisteel/ Photo by aka Kath/flickr
KC Gettings, leader of Troop 40411 in Bremerton, Wash., discovered the fake bills on Feb. 28 when she took the cookie money to a local bank, King5.com reports.
Kate Rocks-Brigati of the Girl Scouts of Western Washington tells AOL Food that 17 troops found counterfeit money among their earnings.
"Apparently, the counterfeiters thought the Girl Scout cookie sale was an easy target," Rocks-Brigati said. "What they found instead, was the girls and leaders, in true Girl Scout fashion, were resourceful and helped to identify the thieves."
The troops use the money they earn from the sale of the $4 boxes of Tagalongs, Samoas and Thin Mints to take camping trips and excursions to the zoo and pool.
Gettings was told two of the bills she took to the bank were phony, and when she used a counterfeit detection pen, she discovered $60 more in fake bills, the station said.
But the Brownie troop did get some satisfaction. On Monday, police told King5 that four people were arrested on counterfeit charges after an 18-year-old man tried to pass off the funny money at a Rite-Aid.
"The lesson is not to steal, not to make fake stuff," Sylvia Swanson, a 7-year-old member of the troop told King5.
Gettings said the girls will get a tour of the police station and will earn a fraud badge.
"We're going to teach the girls about fraud and more about the criminals and stuff that is going on," the troop leader told the station.
And Girl Scout officials said safety was a priority for the young girls.
"Law enforcement has given the girls guidelines to help them feel safe during cookie sales," Rocks-Brigati said. "It is sad that girls as young as 6 have to learn about crime first hand."
