Fake $100 Bills Being Used to Purchase Goods

Southampton Town police are investigating several incidents where fake $100 bills were passed off in Hampton Bays and East Quogue.

According to police, the most recent incident occurred on Sept. 16  when someone used a fake $100 bill to purchase a $2 Lotto scratch-off at the East Quogue Pizza & Deli on Montauk Highway before leaving with the ticket and $98 in real tender.

The person left in a car with a passenger in a dark colored vehicle.

Police are looking into a possible connection with another incident in Hampton Bays in which a person used two phony $100 bills to purchase small items at the Melrose Deli on Montauk Highway on the afternoons of Sept. 14, and Sept. 16 and used two phony $100 bills to purchase small items and leaving with the change.

According to the store owner, the person came back to the store on Sept. 17 to pay for a soda with $100 bill, but was told the bills were fake and to leave the store. The person, police said, became irate and left the store, fleeing in dark colored vehicle.

Police said the Melrose Deli owner has surveillance of the incident and they plan to review it as part of their ongoing investigation.

Last week, Patch also reported a similar crime committed at the Ming Garden chinese restaurant on Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays. In that case, the person purchased two sodas for $3.70 and received $96.30 in change before leaving the restaurant.