Police warning after fake £50 notes reported in Newton Abbot

(Last Updated On: September 30, 2016)

There have been several reports  fake £50 notes in Newton Abbot and business owners have been advised to remain vigilant..

Police have said that so far two different serial numbers have been identified as being linked to these counterfeit £50 notes: HK10 234322 and BC02 245667. Serial numbers are unique, if you have a note with these number, it may be fake. There may be other serial numbers linked to the batch of fake notes.

The notes do not appear to be detectable with the use of counterfeit detection pens which many shops use but police have given the following information to help identify the fakes:

1. Genuine notes feature a series of green rectangles (the visible part of thread) which contains the “£” symbol and the number 50 and movement can be seen when the note is tilted / moved. In the counterfeit notes there are just green printed squares (no detail or movement).

2. Genuine notes feature a watermark which contains a picture of the Queen with a bright / contrasting “£50”. The counterfeit notes appear to contain a watermark: the Queen and “£50” however there is no contrast between them.

3. Genuine notes feature raised print – “Bank of England” text across the note and also the lower right corner. The counterfeits do not have raised print

For further information on how to check your banknotes are genuine, please see the Bank of England website:www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/Pages/educational.aspx

Apps are available from the following links containing details of security features in all Bank of England notes:

http://appstore.com/bankofenglandbanknotes orhttp://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.bankofengland.banknotes

If you find one of the counterfeit £50 notes in your takings please contact police on 101 quoting reference CR/068293/16. If you recognise one during a transaction, call the police on 999 immediately.

Counterfeit banknotes are normally removed from circulation very quickly, and represent a tiny proportion of the genuine banknotes in circulation.