Counterfeit $100 bills covered in a mysterious white powder have been turning up at an Orange County supermarket, leaving workers feeling dizzy — and now cops are investigating the terrifying incidents.
The mysterious fake Benjamins turned up on two occasions this month at the Albertsons grocery on Quail Hill Parkway in Irvine, according to police, appearing first on Feb. 7 and then again on Feb. 10.
In the first instance, two employees discovered the bogus bills on the floor of a shopping aisle in the sprawling suburban supermarket.
The two $100 bills they found were dusted with a white powder, according to cops.
The grocery workers turned in the bills to their store manager, but shortly thereafter began to feel dizzy, prompting police and a hazmat crew to respond to the scene.
Emergency responders checked the employees at the store and determined they were healthy, but the workers went to a hospital of their own accord just to be safe, police said.
Hazmat workers tested the bills and found the powder to contain ephedrine, said Ziggy Azarcon, public information officer for the Irvine Police Department.
Ephedrine is a legal stimulant that can be used in the production of illegal methamphetamine. It can be harmful if it is misused.
Azarcon said the Albertsons store was inspected by health department officials and deemed safe. It is open to the public.
But he urged caution nonetheless.
“If you are going to pick something off the ground, be mindful of what you’re picking up,” said Azarcon said. “If something looks suspicious, call your local authorities.”
More phony $100 bills were found again Wednesday at the same Albertsons location, police said, but those bills did not contain white powder.
Azarcon said the second batch of counterfeit bills were discovered by shoppers in shopping carts and reported to authorities.
Irvine police are investigating the fake currency, Azarcon said.
A rep for Albertsons said the supermarket company is cooperating with cops on their investigation.
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