With certificate of 'authenticity'
Man arrested in Diwaniyah for attempting to sell counterfeit $1 million bill
DIWANIYAH — Authorities in Diwaniyah arrested a man Monday after he was found in possession of a counterfeit $1 million U.S. bill and a forged document claiming to validate its authenticity, according to the Organized Crime Prevention Directorate.
In a statement, the directorate said the arrest followed ongoing efforts to track down fraud and monitor suspicious activity. The suspect was apprehended in one of Diwaniyah’s districts after being identified through intelligence from confidential sources.
Authorities said the man was caught attempting to promote and sell the fake bill to local residents. He was taken into custody, legal proceedings were initiated, and he has been referred to the judiciary.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve have never issued a $1 million bill. Official denominations of U.S. currency include $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. While novelty $1 million bills are widely available as gag gifts or collectibles, attempting to use them as real currency or defraud others with them is a criminal offense.
In a similar case earlier this year, images purporting to show a 100,000 Iraqi dinar banknote circulated online. The Central Bank of Iraq confirmed the note was fake and warned the public against engaging with counterfeit currency, citing potential fraud.
