Don’t Jeopardize Loss Prevention with Fakes, Says U.S. Maker of Counterfeit Money Detector Pen

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DriMark Products, Inc., U.S. manufacturer of the ubiquitous Counterfeit Money Detector Pen used by retailers and other cash-intensive businesses to spot counterfeit currency, cautions them to be prepared for a spike in counterfeiting when the U.S. Treasury issues a new $100 bill later this year. Look-alike detector products with no proven track record could easily jeopardize retailers’ successful loss prevention efforts at the cash register, the company warns.

“Retail merchants, restaurants, entertainment destinations and other cash businesses would be ill advised to compromise their loss prevention programs with untested copy-cat products, even at lower price points.”

“The U.S. Treasury is expected to issue a new $100 bill in 2010, which is certain to cause a spike in counterfeiting activity and create a headache for loss prevention managers. A continued increase in counterfeit currency circulation and the ease with which counterfeit money is able to be produced create a perfect storm for retail establishments handling large quantities of cash,” said Cathy Williams-Owen, DriMark President & CFO. “Retail merchants, restaurants, entertainment destinations and other cash businesses would be ill advised to compromise their loss prevention programs with untested copy-cat products, even at lower price points.”

Former Secret Service Agent Larry Goddard, an expert on counterfeit prevention, said, “The DriMark Counterfeit Money Detector Pen is an excellent front-line defense and deterrent to prevent loss from counterfeit money. It is highly effective and highly recommended.”

The U.S. Federal Reserve reports that $56.2 million in bogus U.S. currency was passed into circulation in 2005, the most recent year for which data are available. This represents an increase of 43% from 1999. An additional $14.7 million was seized before entering general circulation. www.federalreserve.gov

“Today's counterfeiter is able to produce counterfeit currency with basic computer training... Advanced technology in the office machine copier/printer industry has made it possible for even unskilled operators to produce high-resolution color reproductions. The widespread availability of such copiers/printers has increased the incidence of the manufacturing and passing of office machine notes,” according to the United States Secret Service, which polices counterfeiting activity. www.secretservice.gov

About the DriMark Counterfeit Money Detector Pen

The DriMark pen uses a specially formulated ink to expose counterfeit money. A mark on an authentic U.S. currency bill will appear yellow. On counterfeit bills, the mark will appear black. It is a universal loss prevention product designed for ease of use at the register.

DriMark created the retail market for counterfeit currency detection when it introduced the Counterfeit Money Detector Pen in 1991. The product comprises a unique loss prevention category in the office supplies and stationery market, selling at volumes comparable to the most popular brands of marker pens everywhere.

“DriMark’s Counterfeit Money Detector Pen has provided a consistently reliable, easy to use, cost effective fraud protection tool for cash businesses for almost two decades. It is the industry standard-bearer and the only proven loss prevention tool that can reliably authenticate paper currency at the register,” Ms. Williams-Owen said.

About DriMark

Headquartered in Port Washington, New York, DriMark Products, Inc. manufactures one-of-a-kind, patented products that cannot be found anywhere else. DriMark is the leading manufacturer of highlighters and markers to the Promotional Products Industry, with the capability of manufacturing over 2 million markers daily. For more information, visit DriMark at www.drimark.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6143057&lang=en