Woman says she thought
$1 million bill was real

updated 8:49 a.m. ET March 11, 2004

COVINGTON, Ga. - A woman who tried to use a fake $1 million bill to buy $1,675 worth of merchandise at Wal-Mart said it was all just a misunderstanding — she thought the bill was real.

“You can’t keep up with the U.S. Treasury,” said Alice Pike, speaking from jail.

Pike, 35, was arrested last week at the Wal-Mart. The bill was a novelty item that can be bought at gag shops. The United States Treasury does not make $1 million bills.

Newton County Sherriff's Dept. / WSB-TV via AP Alice Regina Pike, who tried to use the fake bill.

Pike told police she got it from her estranged husband, who is a coin collector.

Pike said she first tried to buy the merchandise with two Wal-Mart gift cards. But the cashier told her the cards only had a total value of $2.32. That’s when Pike says she pulled out the $1 million bill.

“All I’ve got is this,” Pike said she told the cashier.

“I wasn’t trying to pass off the bill,” she said. “That’s ridiculous.”

A police report says Pike tried to pay for the items with the fake bill and even asked for change.

Prosecutors must decide whether to prosecute Pike on charges of first-degree forgery.

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