Counterfeit bills found in 2 ATMs in NYC

NEW YORK — Authorities say stacks of amateurish counterfeit bills were discovered in the ATMs of two midtown Manhattan banks.

The New York Times (http://nyti.ms/SOs7e1 ) reports that police and bank officials speculated that the fake bills were put in the ATMs to replace cash that was stolen.

The bills were discovered on Monday at two Chase branches — on 57th Street and on Ninth Avenue. The banks were short a total of some $11,000.

The counterfeit bills were blank on one side. Authorities believe they were meant to trick the ATM into believing it was carrying a full complement of cash.

But a bank official said that the machines were able to distinguish most of the fake bills from real ones.