In CA, they used to do this for the cash back scam. State law was a gift card for $10 or less had to be redeemed for cash. So they'd come in waves, breaking down a ~$500 card to really strange amounts, then another person would come in breaking those down to under $100, then another breaking each into $10, then others coming in with all $10 and drain the drawers and safe until we couldn't do operations.

So then we'd give them the worst denominations like rolls of pennies or nickels, then go up until our drawer was empty. Then just like 2 per person. Then THEY SUED, so had to go back to draining liquid cash and turning away cash customers.

It was a blessèd day when the update came in that we could turn them away, and hand them a paper explaining that they had to file a claim from a residence within the state and only so many per person per timeframe I believe. That put a stop to it immediately.

Funny enough, the ring leader came in a long time later and asked if I remember him. I gave him a knowing smile and said nope because he was actually a really nice person when not scamming??