GRANTS PASS, Ore. — Someone has been using phony bills to buy real goods and services in Grants Pass, according to the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety (GPDPS).

The agency said that it has seen about a dozen cases so far over the past month and a half — all of them involving "movie money."

"These bills are produced and used by the film industry as movie props," GPDPS said. "The bills appear realistic but have distinct wording that is prominently displayed, such as 'FOR MOTION PICTURE USE PURPOSES.'"

Whoever is spending the counterfeit currency, they have been frequenting locations "where good and services are exchanged in a fast-paced manner" — at gas stations, fast food restaurants, convenience stores and grocery stores — places where employees are unlikely to take a closer look at the bills.

GPDPS said that the bills are not legal tender, and they also lack the added security measures that real bills do — watermarks or other embedded security features.

"The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety asks that those people who receive money as part of their job take a close look at the US currency that is presented to them," the agency said.