The victim is persuaded to pay fees and purchase chemicals to remove the dye, with the promise of a share in the proceeds.
A Ghanaian native caught perpetrating the scam revealed the tricks of the trade to ABC News Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross.
[1] Authentic US$100 bills are coated with a protective layer of glue, and then dipped into a solution of tincture of iodine.
The "magic cleaning solution" is actually crushed vitamin C tablets dissolved in water.
In another arrest, ordinary raspberry drink mix was found to be the "magic cleaning solution".