Counterfeit $50 bill

Although I feel like a fool...I thought I would warn against changing 50 bills.
Was putting out my recycling this evening and was approached by a woman who asked for change.  Although, instinctively, I thought about not doing it, I didn't want to be judgemental. 
The 50 bill I received is fake.  My loss.  No good deed goes unpunished.  But this is a warning to all NOT to do the same.
I called my local precinct and they said to bring the note in.  Will do so over the weekend.  I have been told that it's a fairly major offence to deal with counterfeits, so will play my part. 

Yeah, a long time ago I got a counterfeit 20 when I was freelancing. Went to deposit a week's pile-o'-cash at my local bank, and was told that the 20 was fake, and that I was out of luck - I'd have to go to the client for reimbursement. That was so much fun. And I'd been dealing on a cash-only basis with a lot of new clients because I'd had problems with people kiting checks. Grrr.

Just an FYI.  I brought it to the local precinct (77th).  They gave me a phone number for Grand Larceny Unit.  Called them while I was there (luckily) and was told by them to give it to the local precinct who should send it to US Secret Service.  All because it is Federal crime.  Then when I had left, they called me to get a description of the woman.  Yes, a little haphazard, but that's what happened. 

It's a thing that I mention to people having stoop sales.  

A number of years ago, hustlers used to go a stoop sale, pick up something cheap and pay for it with a fake $20.  

Did you take a picture of the bill?  Would be interested to see the quality of the forgery..

Nope.  The quality was crap, which confirmed I was a fool!  It was only when I brought it inside and saw it under a lamp that I realized straight away.  You could tell by the blurry "50"s and the quality.  I compared it to the real thing and there was an obvious difference in color (not so pink around the edges) and of course it was missing the tell tale line.