Counterfeit-cash elves working overtime

They say that lightning never strikes twice. So, imagine my surprise when I discovered recently that Beijing's currency counterfeiters had hit me not just once, and not merely twice, but thrice in a single day.

With hindsight, each situation could easily have been avoided. But these criminals, likely part of the same ring, take advantage of blind spots.

As an indication of the ring's scope, the counterfeit 50 yuan ($7.80) bills that were given to me in three separate incidents on a recent Sunday, several kilometers apart, all bore the same serial number.