North Yorkshire Police has had several reports of counterfeit cash being used in the last few weeks to pay for a range of items including secondhand goods and takeaways.
Most reports have been from the York area but officers believe the currency maybe used elsewhere in the county too.
The fake notes have been used to pay for second hand items bought through Facebook Marketplace and Ebay, as well as for food items and takeaways.
The currency is very crudely created, the notes tend to be opaque and much thicker material than authentic notes. Many of the notes have also been printed ‘Poonds’ instead of ‘Pounds’ and some even feature the small print: ‘This money is play money for video movie use only’.
A police statement says: We’re urging the public to be extremely careful when accepting cash payments and to check that notes are genuine.
Tips for spotting the fake notes
The Bank of England have the following advice around checking for genuine notes:
- Tilt the note from side to side. Check the words change between ‘Twenty’ and ‘Pounds’.
- Look at the metallic image over the main window. Check the foil is blue and gold on the front of the note and silver on the back. Look for a second, smaller window in the bottom corner of the note.
- A portrait of the Queen is printed on the window with ‘£20 Bank of England’ printed twice around the edge.
- A silver foil patch contains a 3D image of the coronation crown. You will find this above the main see-through window on the front of the note.
- A round, purple foil patch contains the letter ‘T’. You will find this on the back of the note, directly behind the silver crown on the front of the note.
- The note is printed on polymer, which is a thin and flexible plastic material. On the front of the note, you can feel raised print. For example, on the words ‘Bank of England’ and in the bottom right corner, over the smaller window.
- The printed lines and colours on the note are sharp, clear and free from smudges or blurred edges. If you use a magnifying glass, you will see the value of the note written in small letters and numbers below the Queen’s portrait.
- Under a good quality ultra-violet light, the number ’20’ appears in bright red and green on the front of the note, against a duller background.
An investigation into these counterfeit notes is currently ongoing and if you think you have been paid using counterfeit currency, please call 101 to report this. Crime Ref: 12210103581