Legal Definitions - marked money

Marked money refers to currency that has been discreetly altered or recorded by law enforcement or investigators to make it uniquely identifiable. These alterations are typically subtle, such as specific serial numbers being recorded, invisible ink applied, or a small, inconspicuous mark made on the bills. The primary purpose is to create a traceable link between the money and a specific transaction or individual, often to gather evidence in a criminal investigation.

• Example 1: Undercover Bribery Investigation

  An anti-corruption unit suspects a public official is accepting bribes for zoning permits. To catch the official, an undercover agent poses as a developer and arranges to pay a "facilitation fee" in cash. Before the meeting, the investigators meticulously record the serial numbers of the banknotes and apply a special, invisible fluorescent powder to them. When the official accepts the cash, the money becomes "marked." If the official is later found with these specific bills, or if the fluorescent powder is detected on their hands or in their office, it provides strong evidence that they received the bribe from the undercover operation.

• Example 2: Internal Business Theft

  A restaurant owner notices a consistent shortage in the cash register at the end of certain shifts and suspects an employee is stealing. To identify the culprit, the owner places a stack of bills with their serial numbers carefully documented into the register at the beginning of a suspected employee's shift. Additionally, a tiny, almost imperceptible ink dot is placed on a corner of each bill. If, at the end of the shift, some of this "marked money" is missing from the register and later discovered in the suspected employee's personal bag or locker, it serves as direct evidence linking the employee to the theft.