Businesses in Armagh have been warned about potential fake £50 notes in circulation following an ‘incident’ in the city earlier this afternoon (Saturday).
Two men ‘with southern accents’ entered a shop in Upper English Street and tried to pay for goods at no more than ‘a few pounds’ with a suspected fake £50 note, according to an eye-witness.
The woman, who was in the shop in question at the time, told Armagh I how the move backfired on the men.
“The two men looked really dodgy when they were handing over the note,” she said.
“Luckily they were pulled on it on this occasion but maybe some other businesses might not be as fortunate.”
She added: “They were told to go and get the money checked after the manager noticed something wasn’t right with them but they never returned to the shop.”
“There was a young girl behind the counter who couldn’t find the marker but thankfully the manager spotted something wasn’t right with the notes.
“It was very odd how they behaved, especially having such a big note for a few items at a few pounds.”
The best ways to avoid being caught out are to:
- familiarise yourself with the security features of genuine notes,
- take sufficient time to check banknotes thoroughly when you receive them. This is particularly true in situations where you receive large volumes of notes.
If you have any doubt, compare the suspect note with another note that you know to be genuine.
Additionally, the Current Banknotes website provide links to information on the key security and design features of banknotes.
Always examine a variety of features rather than relying on just one characteristic when deciding whether or not a note is genuine.
What happens if I come into possession of a counterfeit banknote?
It is important to remember that counterfeit notes are valueless. If you have a note that you believe to be counterfeit, and you are sure who gave you the note, you should take it to the police at once for investigation purposes.
If you have no knowledge of who gave you the note you are required to take it to any local branch of the bank of issue, at which time a “Retention of Counterfeit Currency Form” will be completed, a copy of which will be given to you for your records.
The Bank will retain the counterfeit note for recording and destruction purposes.
You will only be re-imbursed for the value of the note if it is subsequently found to be genuine.
It is a criminal offence to hold or to pass a note that you know to be a counterfeit.
