Would you swap money with this man?
 

Last Tuesday we were driving to Phoenix when we stopped at a rest area south of Sedona.

A trucker walked up to me waving a $5.00 bill and asked if I would swap him five $1.00 bills for it because his bill would not work in the vending machine. Then he added that for all he knew it might be counterfeit.

The first two people he asked recoiled like he had a contagious disease. I laughed and, having quite a few $1.00 bills, I swapped with him. The bill he had was worn in the center from being folded, but I told him that $5.00 counterfit bills were rare because they were not worth the time and effort.

I held the bill up to the light and we could easily see the thread of authenticity in it.

I must admit that his approach was perhaps not as tactful as it could have been, but to shy away? I guess people get their suspicions raised very easily. Candor does that sometimes.

What would you do? Swap or run?

After I told him that $5.00 weren't worth counterfeiting I'm not sure I'd then hold his up to the light to "make certain" but sure, I'd swap with him.

Well, we were curious why it would not work. The worn spot was obvious. The guy who gave me the $5.00 was the one who wanted to see the thread.

I did not relate all of the details.

I'd swap and take my chances. Or, if the bill was fake, I'd probably just just the guy a dollar. Trucking must be hard, and if he needs that Coke or whatever to drive well, it's worth it.

It's $5. Who would bother counterfiting fives?