The trigger
Bandits take Jack and ask for $200. The Steam thread titled “Real Money or Fake Money?” says there are two ways to pay them: counterfeit cash, or real cash. Paying with the fake notes is what starts the later beat with explosives and a standoff. Two YouTube descriptions of the same scene, one of them on the 1.0 build, also call the payment counterfeit cash plus explosives.
I am not publishing a “how to spot a fake” chart. Paper, watermark, and ultraviolet checks belong to real currency, and they are why this query gets the wrong articles. The public achievement list does not identify a detection challenge, although achievements are not a complete list of mechanics.
The two hands
| Choice | What the posts show next | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Real $200 | The ransom is paid with genuine cash. Longer effects on the ending are not written down. | 1 source for the option existing |
| Counterfeit cash | Follow-up scene with explosives and a confrontation. | 3 sources (thread + two videos) |
Hold the $200 if you can. The opening guide already tells you not to sink that float into furniture, and Deal with the Devil wants a $200 deposit while its own quest is active. Those are different $200 moments. Mixing them up is how a safe looks “broken.” The safe rules are on how to make money.
Questions players actually ask
Is there a way to inspect bills with a light or a watermark?
The public discussion describes a ransom hand-over. The sources reviewed here do not document a separate bill-inspection minigame; an achievement list alone cannot rule one out.
What happens if you pay with fake money?
The thread and two videos describe a follow-up: explosives and a confrontation. I do not have an official line on whether that changes the ending or a reputation number.
Sources
- I Gave FAKE MONEY to RESCUE Our SUPPLIER! — checked 2026-11-09
- I Thought These Bandits Would Fall for My Plan — checked 2026-11-09
- Steam discussion — Real Money or Fake Money? — checked 2026-11-09
- Steam achievements list (no detection achievement) — checked 2026-11-09