County warned of counterfeit notes

12:30pm Tuesday 18th November 2008

Businesses and members of the public across Pembrokeshire are being warned to be on the lookout for forged currency, after a number of counterfeit notes have been handed to shop owners in the Pembroke Dock area.

Police say that the notes are usually tendered along with genuine notes so thorough checks need to be carried out. They warned that banks will not compensate members of the public who have received forged notes.

Shoppers and shop owners are being advised to follow the feel, look, tilt process to check notes. They are being told not to go on the overall impression of the money but to focus on checking several individual security features including the metallic thread; watermark; hologram; the print quality raised print and micro lettering. It is also worth comparing the note to another one of the same denomination.

Businesses with ultra violet counterfeit detectors are advised to use them.

If you have checked your note and are still in doubt, you should contact your local police station, as it is an offence to hold onto counterfeit notes. The police will give you a receipt for the note and send it off to the Bank of England for analysis. If the note is genuine, the person who handed it in will be reimbursed.