Money on the road raises safety alert and discussion about fentanyl in banknotes
A driver who spotted ten-dollar notes on the side of a road has sparked an online debate, raising concerns about the hidden dangers in cash found on the street. On July 16th at 8am ET, user Dre (@__itsdree) shared a video on social media showing the discovery. The post quickly generated a series of comments, with internet users warning about the risks of taking money in unusual circumstances.
Discovery of money generates debate about risks and curious stories
The video shows Dre exclaiming about his supposed luck in finding the ten-dollar bills, one after the other, on the side of the road. Believing he had made a great discovery, he got out of the car into traffic to look for more money scattered on the ground.
However, the excitement was short-lived. As he himself explained in the caption, the notes were, in fact, fake. “I thought I was going to get rich. I left the ramp, I was in the middle of traffic and I saw dollar bills scattered on the ground”, he reported. “I ran out to get them and discovered it was just fake money.”
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In the comments of the post, many people shared similar experiences. One user recalled finding $100 on the floor of a supermarket when he was struggling financially, which helped him cover basic expenses for weeks. Another posted an image of a discarded card, which contained a $50 bill and a family member’s signature.
Contudo, a maioria dos comentários serviu como um alerta. “Surely, kidnappers would have caught me,” joked one. Others were more direct, advising caution: “Be careful, it could be tampered with. I wouldn’t take it.”
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Police warnings about fentanyl hidden in banknotes
Concern about adulterated money is not unfounded. There have been cases in which law enforcement authorities have warned the public about the danger of folded bills containing fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid. CBS News reported that the Perry County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee recorded two incidents where dollar bills were found at a gas station with a white powder. Further analysis revealed that the powder was a mixture of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
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A message from the sheriff’s office underscored the seriousness of the risk: “This is very dangerous, everyone! Please share and advise your children not to take drug money.” The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) describes fentanyl as a “synthetic opioid” used to treat pain, being “100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.”
Similar reports emerged in 2022, when the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office in West Virginia issued a public service advisory also urging people to avoid picking up bills that looked suspicious.
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Myths and truths about contact with fentanyl and contaminated banknotes
A 2025 article on Medium explored the alleged phenomenon of tainted money, along with allegations that such notes would be used to lure unsuspecting victims. The theory suggested that contact with contaminated money could cause dizziness or unconsciousness, facilitating kidnapping or human trafficking. Notes with nails would also be placed on windshields, door handles or window gaps, with criminals waiting for the victim’s reaction.
However, the idea that simple contact with fentanyl could lead to loss of consciousness is highly unlikely. The scientific community, such as Science Insights and the American College of Medical Toxicology, clarifies that fentanyl is not absorbed through the skin in significant quantities. There are no records of confirmed cases of poisoning due to brief accidental contact with fentanyl powder or tablets. The skin acts as an effective barrier, preventing the substance from penetrating in large quantities.
Inhaling or ingesting fentanyl, on the other hand, is a completely different and dangerous situation. If fentanyl powder becomes airborne and is inhaled, the drug reaches the bloodstream quickly, with serious consequences. The distinction between touching dust and spreading it into the air and inhaling it is crucial, as exposure to airborne particles poses a real risk.
Therefore, if there really are people mixing powdered fentanyl with money, the expectation is that the victim, when unfolding the note, inhales the drug hidden in the fold. The Motor1 team reached out to Dre and the DEA for further comment on the incident and the alerts.
