Found a $100 bill tucked in your car windshield? Don't touch it and report it immediately

Finding money unexpectedly is always delightful and makes people believe in good fortune. That's precisely what a lot of Americans felt when $100 bills mysteriously appeared tucked under their car windshield. However, authorities soon cautioned that getting tempted by that money may have serious consequences.

It has been reported that this is a tactic used by carjackers to make people leave their automobiles exposed to the risk of theft. When drivers return to their parked cars and notice a $100 bill on the windshield, they step out to grab it, and that's when a thief seizes the opportunity to steal the vehicle, as reported by ABC News. They are able to do so since motorists tend to leave the key in the ignition while stepping out to grab the note. Several other reports suggest another theory, claiming that criminals might be leaving fake bills deliberately for individuals to use at local stores. This would allow the criminals to test if the fake money could pass off as real. If someone is caught or reported, the criminals would learn which fake bills are more likely to be detected, according to Market Realist.

On the other hand, if the fake bill is overlooked, the counterfeiters will know that their scheme is a success without the risk of getting caught. Therefore, in any such case, police have urged people to stay away from both the money and their vehicles, advising them to call 911 right away if they spot suspicious cash. If a driver notices the bill only after entering the car, they should leave the area immediately and address the situation later. Similarly, the Baltimore County Police Department’s auto theft task force uncovered another similar scam. A police department spokesperson said, “We have seen incidents where auto thieves will bump the back of someone's car in traffic. When everyone gets out of their cars, a thief will jump in the victim's car and drive off."

A warning regarding a sophisticated carjacking fraud was also issued by the Irvine Police Department in California. In this scheme, fraudsters offered drivers up to $12,000 to transport cash for them in visually appealing social media advertisements. They also offered victims discretion, public stops, and expense compensation to draw them in. However, instead of making the payment, the thieves would find a chance and steal the victim's car. In another cash-related scam, Tennessee police urged locals in 2022 not to pick up any folded dollar notes they spotted randomly as they might contain fentanyl.

Several incidents occurred where folded bills were discovered on the floor of a local gas station, containing a white powdery substance, as reported by NBC News. After testing, authorities confirmed that the powder was a dangerous mix of methamphetamine and fentanyl, as stated in an official report from the sheriff's office. Sheriff Nick Weems said, "This is very dangerous, folks! Please share and educate your children to not pick up the money. I personally plan to push for legislation for a bill that would intensify the punishment, if someone is caught using money as a carrying pouch for such poison. It enrages me as a father and the Sheriff, that people can act so carelessly and have no regard for others well being, especially a child."