Fake banknotes warning to shoppers and businesses

Counterfeit currency is being circulated in Telford and here’s what you need to look out for.

The current crop of fake notes includes a Scottish £20 note supposedly issued by the Clydesdale Bank and a Bank of England £20 note.

Despite the close likeness, here are the tell-tale signs you should be looking out for.

On the Bank of England £20, the small see-through window to the bottom right of the Queens head, should show lots of little 20s throughout.  The fake ones we have seen are just transparent.

On the opposite side, the hologram element at the bottom should say ‘Twenty’ at one angle, and ‘Pounds’ as you angle the note. The fakes just say ‘Twenty’.

The Clydesdale notes have a thick, acetate feel to them, and the printing is a little blurred. Real bank notes should have super-sharp definition printing.

If you are a shop owner or employee and you are being presented with a fake note, The Bank of England suggest that if you do not feel at risk, you should keep the note, give the customer a recipt and let them know if it’s genuine you will reimburse them and ask for another form of payment. Then call the Police.

If you do feel at risk, refuse the note and contact police.

If you have a fake note as a comsumer, do not be tempted to use it. The penalty for using fake currency is up to 10 years in prison.