The United States Secret Service is investigating a sophisticated counterfeit money operation in Santa Barbara County that was busted up this week by the sheriff's department.
Six businesses in Santa Maria and Solvang were victimized earlier this week by what sheriff's deputies describe as a counterfeiting crew.
Four people were arrested and are under investigation for passing counterfeit $100 bills as well as drug possession and felony conspiracy.
Those arrested include 40-year-old Tanya Lee Rose of Bakersfield, 42-year-old Melissa Jones of Bakersfield, 48-year-old Doreen Rowland of Bakersfield and 40-year-old Thomas Berchtold of San Luis Obispo who is formerly from Bakersfield.
Kelly Hoover with the sheriff's office says business owners helped track down those arrested and now the case shifts to the federal government.
"The United States Secret Service is now conducting its own investigation and is looking at the activity of these four individuals to see if there are additional victims and if they are working with anyone else," said Hoover.
The Secret Service tells KCBX an average of $6,000 in counterfeit bills are confiscated each week in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties.
The Secret Service encouraged people to know your money.