Fake cash crops up in Junee after Riverina arrest

JUNEE businesses are on alert after a counterfeit $20 note was tendered at a local café.

Staff at Brew at 102 discovered the bogus note sometime after it had been accepted during a cash transaction on Monday morning, June 1.

The counterfeit $20 note was not immediately identified at the time of sale, with staff only realising later that the banknote was fake.

The Junee Bulletin has been told the phoney note had a plastic-like feel, closely resembling genuine Australian currency.

However, a photo of the bogus note shows the word “PROPS” printed in the lower left corner, a tell-tale sign it was not genuine.

The counterfeit $20 note accepted at a Junee café featured the word “PROPS” in the lower left corner, one of several indicators the banknote was fake | Image: Supplied

The discovery comes just days after The Bulletin reported the arrest of a 25-year-old woman accused of allegedly using counterfeit cash at multiple businesses across parts of the Riverina during an alleged 11-day spending spree.

READ MORE: Woman accused of using fake cash in 11-day spree

The woman was charged with four counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and three counts of using counterfeit money knowing it to be counterfeit following an extensive police investigation.

The latest incident serves as a timely reminder for local residents and business owners to remain cautious when handling cash, with police urging retailers to carefully check banknotes for any signs they may not be genuine.

While $50 and $100 notes are among the most commonly reported counterfeits in Australia, other denominations are also copied from time to time, as shown by the latest find in Junee.

This image shows a comparison between a genuine $50 banknote (top) and a counterfeit note (bottom), highlighting differences in print quality and security features | File image

Retailers are advised to feel the note, with genuine Australian banknotes printed on a special plastic polymer that is difficult to tear.

A counterfeit note printed on paper may feel different to genuine currency, while security features such as the Australian Coat of Arms may not be visible when held to the light.

The Coat of Arms is generally located to the left of the clear window or denomination numeral when looking at the front of the note.

Police also recommend checking the clear window and printed image and, where possible, using a UV light to locate serial numbers.

Retailers should also check for words such as “prop” or “specimen”, feel for slightly raised printing on the main design, look for the seven-pointed star inside a circle, and compare the background printing for distortions or unclear patterns.

Anyone who suspects they are being handed counterfeit cash can refuse to accept the note, provided it is safe to do so.

Anyone who comes across a suspected counterfeit banknote should handle it as little as possible, place it in an envelope, note any relevant details about how it came into their possession, and report the matter to police.