Counterfeiting Laws; How do I not break the law when copying money on a printer?

I just want to make a one sided bill to prank people, or a two sided if there is a way to not break the law. I heard if you only do one side, or make it smaller or larger it is not considered counterfeiting. I do not want to use it to spend, but to play a prank. How do I not break the law while still making a similar looking bill?

It's counterfeit if you pass it off as a real bill, but you can put in small letters that say, this is not legal tender, or you can put the word VOID in really small letters. Since the dollar bill is the US Treasury's Check, the word Void wold be appropriate.

I am thinking that it might be best to find another prank to pull. That one is very tired anyways.

Why not just keep it simple?

Dog poop on a doorstep in a paper bag, lit on fire, is always good, and you cant be accused of counterfeiting.

The best thing to do is to make a few examples of your "prank" money and mail them to the secret service along with your return address. Just put in the envelope a simple post- it note that says "what do you think?"

I'm sure you will find them very help full!

If you go to the Secret Service / Treasury Dept. website, you will find that they have a posted answer to your question. Basically, the bill is required to be increased in size to 150% of the original, or decreased to at least 75% of the original.

Copying a few bills is not illegal. It's trying to pass them off as legal tender that's illegal. A federal crime by the way.

If you were really well-intent on manifesting your prank that you could hardly breathe if you are unable to initiate such prank then you may................go to the courts and gain a waiver.......play money are often given bold notifications[play money, not legal tender]--manufacturers of these are given legal rights to publish or print play money for educational purposes. Even mainstream prank shows are beset with legal troubles of their own......even such shows are supposed to get approval from their victims!!!! [they are supposed to get approval from their victims before showing it on tv]. Even the cheapest printers can make forgeries, there was even a case when a 40 dollar printer was used to copy money...they got sacked!!!!! For fun's sake????? Just don't go on with it...think of something else!!!!!

After you print them take them to the treasury department and say "hey I just made these what do you think"

And I can promise you they will let you know just how good they are.

eh, I wouldn't recommend that course of action.