Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a counterfeiter, initially of documents, later of money.

1612		Dekker O per se O M4: They who are Counterfeiters of Passeports are called Ben-feakers, that is to say, Good makers.
1688		R. Holme Academy of Armory Ch. iii item 68b: Give me leave to give you the names (as in their Canting Language they call themselves) of all (or most of such) as follow the Vagabond Trade, according to their Regiments or Divisions, as [...] Ben-Fakers, Counterfeiters of Passes and Seals.
1725		New Canting Dict. n.p.: benfeakers Counterfeiters of Notes, Receipts, &c.
1737, 1759, 1760, 1776		Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Dict.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1809		G. Andrewes Dict. Sl. and Cant.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1835		G. Kent Modern Flash Dict. n.p.: bene fakers – counterfeiters.
1848		Flash Dict. in Sinks of London Laid Open [as cit. 1835].
c.1850		Duncombe New and Improved Flash Dict. n.p.: Bene-fakers forgers of any thing.