PC E-cash (NewsClip)
Secret Service Says Student Used PC To Print Money Lubbock, Tex., Aug. 3 -- PC graphics programs have come a long way since their inception, but not far enough to fool the Secret Service. That's what a Texas Tech student tried to do when he used his personal computer to print counterfeit money, according to Secret Service agents. "He really put his whole heart and soul into it," according to Lubbock, Texas Secret Service Resident Agent David Freriks. Freriks said the man is an engineering student at Texas Tech, but told agents he plans to change his major to computer science. The 20-year old student hasn't been identified by name since he hasn't been formally charged yet, according to Freriks. But officials apparently aren't concerned that he will flee. "At this point, he's more afraid of his dad than anything," said one agent. Freriks said the Pakistani national, who resides in affluent southwest Lubbock, scanned a real $50 bill into his PC, then printed the image to an Epson inkjet color printer. Agents said the money looked real at a distance but up close the designs were blurred, the coloration was faulty, and the paper was slick and didn't have a watermark strip. Freriks said agents are confident that all of the approximately $3,300 that was circulated has been recovered except for about $1,000 which he said he is sure will show up eventually, since the quality makes it easy for bank employees to spot. ... Investigators seized the home computer, printer and scanner from the student's home. They said they also found a suitcase containing almost $260,000 in fake $50 bills. --
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