> At a Glance
> – Two Long Beach women hit roughly 12 In-N-Out spots with counterfeit $100 bills
> – Auriona Lewis, 24, caught Oct. 30 with matching fake notes; Tatyanna Foster, 26, arrested Dec. 15
> – Fraudulent purchases included a $5.93 Flying Dutchman and $2.35 fries
> – Why it matters: The brazen counterfeiting spree across L.A. and Orange counties shows fake cash still circulating at popular fast-food chains
Glendale police say a months-long probe uncovered a coast-to-coast-style counterfeit binge that zeroed in on In-N-Out Burger joints across two counties.
How the Scheme Unfolded
The first red flag surfaced Oct. 21 at the Glendale location, where a bogus $100 bill was slipped to the cashier. Detectives quickly spotted the same pattern at about a dozen other In-N-Out restaurants, prompting a joint probe with the chain’s internal security team.
Surveillance footage and transaction logs helped investigators zero in on Auriona Lewis and Tatyanna Foster, both of Long Beach.
- Target: Roughly 12 In-N-Out stores in Los Angeles and Orange counties
- Method: Passing counterfeit $100 bills for low-cost items to pocket real change
- Evidence: Gift cards and receipts tied to fraudulent activity seized at arrest
Arrests and Charges
Auriona Lewis was nabbed Oct. 30 in Palmdale while carrying counterfeit bills that matched the Glendale batch. She was later charged with felony counterfeiting and grand theft, jail logs show. A court order freed her in November.
Tatyanna Foster was taken into custody Dec. 15; her first court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 20.
| Purchase | Amount Paid | Change Received |
|---|---|---|
| Flying Dutchman | $100 (fake) | ~$94 real cash |
| Fries | $100 (fake) | ~$97 real cash |
Key Takeaways
- Counterfeit $100 bills used at roughly a dozen In-N-Out locations
- Two Long Beach women identified and arrested; one still pending court date
- Low-cost food orders used to convert fake notes into genuine currency
The case underscores how everyday fast-food counters can become front lines in the battle against counterfeit currency.
Key Takeaways
- Counterfeit $100 bills used at roughly a dozen In-N-Out locations
- Two Long Beach women identified and arrested; one still pending court date
- Low-cost food orders used to convert fake notes into genuine currency
