Woman tries to spend fake $1 million note

Click here for pictures of the fake $1 million note

The cashier immediately noticed the bill - bearing the picture of the Statue of Liberty - was fake and called her manager who alerted the police.

But speaking on Wednesday to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution from the Newton County Jail, Alice Pike said it had all been a misunderstanding and she did not intend to use the fake money at the Wal-Mart. But she said she did think the bill was real.

"You can't keep up with the U.S. Treasury," Pike said.

The bill was a novelty note that can be bought at joke shops. Pike told police she got it from her estranged husband, who is a coin collector.

The US Treasury does not make $1m bills, which only go as high as $100.

The Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve System discontinued banknotes in denominations of $500, $1,000 and $10,000 due to lack of use.

"This is the first time in my law enforcement career I've seen someone trying to use a $1 million bill," local police chief Almond Turner was quoted as saying by the Houston Chronicle newspaper.

"It was green, but you could tell it was not a real bill," Mr Turner added.