BEWARE OF THE COUNTERFEIT

Thursday - July 28, 2022

Posted

“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason, God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie” – 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11

In February 2022, a Home Depot employee was arrested for swapping out $387,500 of the store’s cash with counterfeit money, the U.S. Secret Service said.

Adrian Jean Pineda worked as a vault associate in a store in Tempe, Arizona — where he was responsible for preparing cash from registers for bank deposits, a process that included counting cash and sealing cash bags for transfer and deposit to a Wells Fargo bank. According to a criminal complaint, Pineda had been taking money from the deposits and replacing it with counterfeit currency during his shifts. The Home Depot store reported losing $387,500 between January 2018 to January 2022 due to receiving counterfeit notes in their cash deposits, the U.S. Secret Service.

Agents from the U.S. Secret Service office in Phoenix arrested Pineda and seized $5,000 in counterfeit money and recovered $5,300 in genuine currency. Agents recovered an additional $22,000 in genuine currency while conducting a search warrant on Pineda’s home.“This case illustrates the continued commitment of the Secret Service and the US Attorney’s Office to investigating and prosecuting counterfeit violations," Frank Boudreaux Jr. of the U.S. Secret Service office in Phoenix said in a statement, adding that Pineda's arrest "marked the culmination of a strategic investigation enacted by Phoenix special agents, Home Depot security personnel and Wells Fargo Bank. "Pineda has been charged with uttering of counterfeit U.S. currency and is set to appear in court on Feb. 7  for a status hearing at the federal district court in Arizona.

When evil comes, it will be disguised as good. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to give you discernment in all that you do.

"You may imitate, but never counterfeit.” – Honore de Balzac

God’s Word: “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.” – Matthew 24:11