Three men, two from the Boston area and one from Worcester, were arrested on Aug. 29 after allegedly passing counterfeit $20 bills at a handful of Wareham businesses.

William Shields, 46, of Boston, Jashawn Tate, 46, of Worcester and Rudell Tate, 33, of Dorchester were charged with possession of over 10 counterfeit notes and conspiracy, according to Wareham Police.

The three men were under surveillance on Aug. 29 at Wareham Crossing when detectives watched them enter and exit several stores in the shopping complex. Police said the men then drove to Cranberry Plaza in East Wareham where officers confronted Shields as he passed a counterfeit $20 to a Stop & Shop cashier.

Police said Shields had five additional counterfeit $20 in his possession. Officers then spoke to both Tates, who were parked and waiting outside the supermarket. After a search of the car, police said counterfeit bills totaling $2,380 were discovered along with several store bags from various Wareham retailers.

Wareham Detectives are continuing to investigate the matter. Police reported that Shields faces an additional charge of three counts of uttering a counterfeit note