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B-155287, SEP. 5, 1967

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Highlights

AFTER POSTING OF SERIAL NUMBERS OF FOUR $20 COUNTERFEIT BILLS AND ADVISING EMPLOYEES THAT COUNTERFEIT BILLS WERE BEING CIRCULATED IN VICINITY. HAD ONE COUNTERFEIT BILL ACCEPTED AT POST OFFICE MAY NOT BE RELIEVED OF LIABILITY SINCE EMPLOYEE WHO ACCEPTED COUNTERFIET BILL WAS CARELESS OR NEGLIGENT AND DID NOT EXERCISE DUE CARE. RELIEF SHOULD NOT BE GRANTED EVEN THOUGH SERIAL NUMBERS ARE NOT POSTED OR BROUGHT TO EMPLOYEES' ATTENTION WHERE QUALITY OF COUNTERFEITING IS SUCH THAT AN ORDINARY PRUDENT PERSON WOULD QUESTION AUTHENTICITY OF THE BILL. YOU ASK WHETHER WE CAN CONCUR IN ALLOWING CREDIT IN THE SETTLEMENT OF A POSTMASTER'S ACCOUNT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 39 U.S.C. 2401 WHEN THE SERIAL NUMBER OF A COUNTERFEIT BILL WAS POSTED AT A BUSINESS WINDOW OF THE POST OFFICE PRIOR TO ITS ACCEPTANCE BY A POSTAL EMPLOYEE.

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