Patent ID: 8138916

Claim:
A counterfeit detection system and method of utilizing same, comprising: A) a Point of Service system having at least one Point of Service station and a respective Currency-Scanning Device, and at least one communication module having means to connect to Internet; B) a hub or switch; C) a surveillance system; D) a local server; E) a database; and F) counterfeit detection means comprising the steps of: G) inserting a paper currency into said respective Currency-Scanning Device; H) scanning said paper currency for currency data; I) converting said currency data into electric signals; J) analyzing said electric signals; K) recognizing that said paper currency is authentic and proceeding to step G), otherwise proceeding to step L); L) sending an alarm signal and said electric signals of said currency data to said at least one communication module; M) sending said alarm signal from said at least one communication module to a surveillance system and proceeding to steps N) and P); N) sending said electric signals of said currency data to said local server having said database; O) recording said electric signals of said currency data by said database; P) directing video cameras of said surveillance system to location of said respective Currency-Scanning Device; Q) recording of said location of said respective Currency-Scanning Device by said video cameras; and R) notifying appropriate personnel of said paper currency; further characterized in that said at least one Point of Service station is connected to a cash register machine, card readers, or barcode readers, said at least one communication module also comprises two light-emitting diodes on a front panel for status notification, one of said two light-emitting diodes is red to indicate said at least one communication module is powered on, and a second of said two light-emitting diodes is green to indicate an active connection between said at least one communication module and said hub or switch, said at least one communication module also comprises a DB-9 female connector, which generates an audible alarm signal in one of its pins when a counterfeit bill is detected, said DB-9 female connector integrates said respective Currency-Scanning Device with said surveillance system, thus allowing recording of an event as well as notifying security personnel if desired, said at least one communication module has a unique identification number to identify a location of a fake paper currency and where said fake paper currency was detected, thus enabling a record of date, location, and specific currency data obtained by each said respective Currency-Scanning Device, and further comprising at least one DLS router having access through said Internet to enable said hub or switch to send information to said local server when configured to operate at multiple selling facilities.