Schumer urges Secret Service to step up efforts to combat counterfeit money on Long Island

ROCKVILLE CENTRE (WABC) -- U.S. Senator Charles Schumer is urging the Secret Service to step up its efforts to combat the uptick in counterfeit money circulating around Long Island region.

According to the Secret Service and local authorities, the exact number is estimated at more than $3 million annually, which means it is likely there are many more dollars in circulation that have gone undetected.

Schumer highlighted numbers from Nassau and Suffolk counties showing a troubling increase so far this year.

At Churchill's Restaurant, there have been at least 18 instances since the beginning of 2015, and Rockville Centre's Kasey's Kitchen and Cocktails has also been targeted.

Schumer says that fake bills are a serious problem for local shop owners, since they have little to no recourse for recouping the money they are owed.

Schumer wants the Secret Service to work with local law enforcement to get to the bottom of the proliferation of fake currency and to supply the resources local retailers need to identify fake bills from the onset.

A link on the Secret Service website explains the best ways to spot counterfeit money.