Fake £20 note warning after spate of seizures in Plymouth
POLICE have repeated warnings about the number of fake £20 notes being used across the city.
A sharp rise in the number of counterfeit notes has prompted police to urge shop staff and customers to be vigilant.
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The Herald first reported the issue last week after a number of notes were seized, two found on consecutive days at a shop in Devonport Road.
However, more counterfeit £20 notes have been found in the past few days at even more locations across the city.
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Police believe the sudden increase in the number of reports of fake cash being used suggests criminals are attempting to flood the city.
The fakes are good copies which could easily be passed for genuine notes if ultraviolet light or a paper currency pen does not pick them up.
A police spokesman said: "We recognise this is an ongoing problem for shop owners and we will do as much as we can to help.
"In recent days counterfeit cash has been used to pay for home delivery shopping, to purchase items in local convenience stores and at a fish and chip shop among others.
"Offenders seem to target smaller traders but once someone knows what to look for it is not hard to spot them even though some are very good.
"Regardless of denomination, on a genuine note the 'Bank of England' at the top is slightly embossed when you feel it with your fingers.
"Also, if marked with money marking pens, the ink will not leave a mark on a real note so if a mark is left the note is a fake."
For more information visit the site at www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/Pages/retailers
If anyone has any information about these incidents that could help police track down those involved in the distribution of counterfeit cash, they should call police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting crime reference number EC/12/5795.
Comments
by MissAnthrope
Friday, June 22 2012, 10:25AM
“How does fake money cause a seizure? Mind you, if I got ripped off for £20 I'd have a fit. Why don't shopkeepers put a sign in their window saying 'fake £20 notes accepted here'? The crooks will think it's a trap and go somewhere else.”
by shipmateron
Friday, June 22 2012, 7:38AM
“If the fake notes were used to pay for home delivery shopping can't the police find out the address of the person who made the payment? The master criminal always makes one tiny, yet crucial, mistake.”