Shoalhaven police have issued a warning to be on the lookout for counterfeit $50 notes following a number being found in circulation across the Shoalhaven and Illawarra.
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Police have asked people to perform the ‘scrunch test’ on $50 notes that look suspicious.
Australian banknotes are made of plastic and when scrunched a genuine banknote will spring back, whereas a fake note will remain crumpled.
If a banknote remains crumpled police have asked shopkeepers to contact police immediately and ask the person attempting to use the note to remain there until police arrive.
The public are being asked to hand any suspicious notes to them directly.
In 2014-15 more than 33,000 fake $50 notes were removed from circulation, triple the number detected two years ago.
The once state-of-the-art security measures used in the design of the polymer $50 note are now more than 20 years old, making it vulnerable to advances in digital imaging and printing technology.
Criminals using counterfeit notes often target businesses dependent on cash sales like pubs, restaurants and cafes.
How to spot a fake $50 note:
- It is plastic? Australian banknotes are printed on plastic and have a distinct feel. A suspect banknote may feel excessively thick or thin compared to a genuine banknote. It is difficult to start a tear along the edge of a genuine banknote.
- Hold it up to the light. If you hold the banknote to the light, you should see the Australian Coat of Arms and the diamond pattern printed on both sides should line up perfectly to form a seven-pointed star.
- Check the clear window. The stars printed on there should not be able to be rubbed off.
- Compare the size of the suspect $50 note to a genuine $50 note.
- Try the scrunch test. Scrunch the banknote in your hand – a genuine banknote will spring back to its original shape.
