BRADENTON, Fla. -- Girl Scouts in Bradenton said they received counterfeit cash while selling cookies over the weekend.
Bradenton Police said officers took a report about the fake cash and officers are investigating.
The Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida said it lost at least $650.
"You kind of feel targeted. You feel it's a crime and they're intending to rip off little girls," said Kelly McGraw, Director of Member Experience with Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida.
Kelly McGraw with Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida said several troops reported receiving counterfeit cash. They realized the money was fake when they went to make a deposit at the bank.
"The tellers are telling them, you're short $80, you're short $100 and the leaders are saying, 'No it's in the stack.' Well, the machines at the bank are counting the real money so that's how they are finding out," said McGraw.
Ten-year-old Sydney Cramer is learning the difference between fake and real money. She was with her mother and sister selling cookies at a local grocery store this weekend. Someone handed her sister fake cash.
"This person handed a $50 bill to my 7-year-old so it was tough for sure. I didn't realize it until I got home," said Michelle Cramer.
"It upsets me because the Girl Scouts are working hard to do this and now we get a counterfeit bill," said Sydney.
McGraw said the girls are now using counterfeit pens so they can spot fake money.
"They're just learning how to count money and now they have to figure out good money from bad money. They're trying to get up enough courage to ask people to buy a box and now they're going to be wondering if this is a good person or a person who is going to give them bad money," said McGraw.
McGraw said strangers have been donating online to help the Girl Scouts reach their goals.
"There's a lot more good people in this world than there are bad people. This was a lesson to be learned. There are some bad people out there and we need to be smart now and learn from this," said Michelle Cramer.
To help the Girl Scouts reach their goals, you can click here for more information.
