Authorities allege that two Long Beach women, Auriona Lewis, 24, and Tatiyanna Foster, 26, passed counterfeit $100 bills at roughly 12 In-N-Out Burger locations across Los Angeles and Orange counties between October and December 2025.
The investigation began after a suspicious cash transaction was reported at a Glendale In-N-Out on October 21, 2025. The case later expanded into a multi-agency probe spanning several Southern California jurisdictions.
How the Alleged Scheme Worked
Investigators say the suspects used counterfeit $100 bills to pay for very small orders, maximizing the amount of legitimate change returned. Items reportedly included low-cost menu staples such as fries or the Flying Dutchman.
By keeping transactions simple and fast, the suspects allegedly avoided drawing attention. Each successful transaction converted a single fake bill into a large amount of real cash, making the method efficient and repeatable.
Why In-N-Out Locations Were Chosen
In-N-Out restaurants are known for high-volume, fast-paced service and a customer base that frequently pays with cash. Drive-thru windows and busy counter lines can limit the time employees have to closely inspect large bills.
Authorities believe these conditions made detection less likely during peak hours. There is no evidence suggesting insider involvement or that In-N-Out was uniquely negligent compared to other cash-accepting businesses.
Geographic Spread of the Activity
The alleged counterfeit passes were not confined to a single city. Investigators linked incidents across multiple communities in Southern California, including Glendale, Palmdale, and parts of Orange County. The spread suggested coordination rather than isolated attempts.
Police say the pattern across counties helped establish probable cause that the same suspects were responsible for the repeated incidents over several weeks.
Discovery at the Glendale Location
The investigation began when employees at the Glendale In-N-Out reported a suspected counterfeit $100 bill on October 21, 2025. Staff accepted the bill during the transaction but later flagged it as suspicious.
This report prompted Glendale Police Department financial crimes detectives to begin reviewing surveillance footage, receipts, and transaction details, ultimately linking the Glendale incident to similar reports at other locations.
Evidence Linking the Transactions
Surveillance footage, transaction records, and the physical characteristics of the counterfeit bills were used to connect the incidents.
According to investigators, the fake bills shared consistent features. When Lewis was later arrested, officers reportedly recovered counterfeit bills matching those used in the Glendale case, along with gift cards and receipts believed to be connected to the transactions, strengthening the case against the suspects.
Arrest of Auriona Lewis
Auriona Lewis was arrested on October 30, 2025, in Palmdale. Glendale Police financial crimes detectives worked alongside K9 units and the U.S. Marshals Task Force to locate and take her into custody.
Authorities say the involvement of federal partners reflected the multi-jurisdictional nature of the case, not the dollar amount alone. Lewis was booked without incident following the arrest.
Foster Turns Herself In
After Lewis’s arrest, attention turned to locating Tatiyanna Foster. Following approximately two months of searching, Foster voluntarily surrendered to authorities on December 15, 2025. At the time, she was already on probation related to a prior burglary case.
Investigators have stated that her surrender helped conclude the active search phase of the investigation, though legal proceedings are still ongoing.
Charges Filed Against Lewis
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged Lewis in November 2025 with felony counterfeiting and grand theft. Prosecutors allege the repeated use of counterfeit currency and the cumulative losses meet felony thresholds.
Lewis pleaded not guilty to the charges. Her case is proceeding through the court system, with hearings scheduled in Pasadena as of January 2026.
Foster’s Legal Status
As of the latest updates, Foster had not yet faced formal counterfeiting charges in this case and was awaiting her first related court appearance.
Authorities confirmed she was being held on a probation violation stemming from an earlier burglary conviction. Investigators have not publicly stated whether additional charges will be filed or if the cases against the two women will ultimately be consolidated.
Financial Impact on In-N-Out
The affected In-N-Out locations incurred losses primarily from the change given for counterfeit bills and the time spent addressing the investigation. While the exact dollar amount has not been publicly disclosed, authorities describe the losses as meaningful but limited.
There have been no confirmed reports of price increases, operational changes, or customer compensation directly tied to this incident.
No Verified Impact on Customers
Despite the scope of the scheme, there is no evidence that customers suffered direct financial harm. Reports do not indicate diners received counterfeit change or were charged differently as a result. Investigators emphasized that the losses were absorbed by the business.
There is also no confirmation that the incident prompted widespread changes in how customers choose to pay at In-N-Out locations.
In-N-Out’s Cooperation With Police
In-N-Out cooperated with law enforcement by providing surveillance footage and transaction information.
This cooperation was critical in identifying suspects and tracking patterns across locations. The company has not released detailed public statements about internal counterfeiting procedures, and no verified information suggests new training programs or policy changes were implemented specifically because of this case.
Role of Restaurant Employees
Employees unknowingly accepted the counterfeit bills during routine transactions, then followed proper procedures by alerting management and police once concerns arose. Authorities have not reported any disciplinary actions or safety incidents involving staff.
Investigators noted that fast-food employees are often the first line of defense in detecting counterfeit currency, even when operating under time pressure.
Multi-Agency Investigation
What began as a local fraud report escalated into a coordinated effort involving Glendale Police, regional partners, and the U.S. Marshals Task Force.
The federal involvement reflected the cross-county scope and the need to locate suspects who were no longer confined to one jurisdiction. Officials say the collaboration helped resolve the case more quickly than a single-agency effort would have.
Notable but Not Officially “Largest”
While authorities and media have described the case as one of the more notable counterfeit schemes targeting a single restaurant chain in 2025, officials have not formally labeled it the largest of the year.
Prosecutors emphasized the coordinated nature and number of locations involved rather than total dollar losses when discussing the case’s significance.
Advice for Other Retailers
Police used the case to remind retailers to remain vigilant when handling large bills. Officers advised checking security features such as paper texture, watermarks, and color-shifting ink.
Merchants were encouraged to promptly report suspected counterfeit currency rather than returning it to circulation. Early reporting, investigators noted, can help prevent patterns from expanding undetected.
Reporting and Prevention Tips
Law enforcement encouraged businesses to contact local police immediately when counterfeit bills are suspected. In Glendale, merchants were directed to call the department’s non-emergency line to report incidents.
Officers stressed that counterfeit investigations rely heavily on timely reports, physical evidence, and surveillance footage to connect isolated transactions into a broader criminal pattern.
Open Questions in the Case
Investigators have not disclosed where the counterfeit $100 bills originated or whether a larger counterfeiting operation supplied them. Authorities also have not confirmed whether additional suspects could be involved.
These unanswered questions remain part of the ongoing investigative interest, even as the primary suspects move through the court system.
A Small Purchase, Serious Charges
The case highlights how even low-dollar fast-food transactions can lead to serious felony charges when counterfeit currency is involved.
What appeared to be routine orders allegedly triggered a months-long, multi-agency investigation. Prosecutors say the outcome underscores that passing fake money—regardless of the setting—carries significant legal consequences once patterns emerge.
Sources:
Glendale Police Department released “Glendale Police Arrest Two In Counterfeit Currency Scheme Targeting In-N-Out” on their official site around January 8-9, 2026.
FOXLA published “2 arrested in In-N-Out counterfeit cash scheme” on January 8, 2026.
FOXLA also covered “In-N-Out targeted in Southern California counterfeit scheme” on January 12, 2026.
CBS News Los Angeles reported “12 Southern California In-N-Outs targeted in alleged counterfeit money scheme” on January 8, 2026.
LA Times detailed “In-N-Out Burger outlets in Southern California hit by counterfeit bill scam” on January 10, 2026.
Yahoo News shared “Southern California In-N-Out restaurants hit by counterfeit money scheme” on January 9, 2026.