FAKE €20s JUST 8c ONLINE FROM CHINA
50 OF THE NOTES CAN BE BOUGHT ONLINE FROM CHINA LINE FOR AS LITTLE AS €4
GARDAÍ have warned that fake €20 notes, which can be brought online from Chinese websites for as little as eight cents each, are circulating around the Cork region.
A Garda source told The Corkman that a number of the notes, which can be purchased in bundles of 50 for €4, have been passed across the counters in premises over recent weeks.
The source said that while the counterfeit notes are of poor quality, they are not always easy to detect with just a perfunctory check.
“While they are on relatively good quality paper they do not have either the metallic strip or the hologram present on genuine notes and are slightly smaller in size when compared to the real thing. In addition, the word ‘copy’ can clearly be seen on the back of each note.”
The Garda source also warned anyone thinking of buying the notes online that the penalties for anyone caught trying to pass off one of the fake notes can be very severe.
GARDAI have warned that fake €20 notes, which can be bought online from websites in the Far East for less than 10 cents each, are currently in circulation across the county.
The Corkman understands that a number of fake notes have been passed across the counters of premises over recent weeks, with a Garda source warning business owners and employees that it is likely there are more in circulation.
The source said that while the counterfeit notes are of poor quality they are not always easy to detect with just a perfunctory check.
“While they are on relatively good quality paper they do not have either the metallic strip or the hologram present on genuine notes, and are slightly smaller in size when compared to the real thing. In addition, the word ‘copy’ can clearly be seen on the back of each note.”
The source said the notes can often be difficult to detect as people rarely pass more than one of them together at the same time and those trying to pass them off typically choose a busy time in the premises to do so.
“The key thing is for traders to be alert to the risk of being duped by one of notes, in particular if someone is trying to buy a low-cost item with a high denomination note.”
The source said that 50 of the notes, with a fake face value of €1,000, can be purchased online from Chinese-based websites for as little as €4.
However, he warned people who may be tempted to try their luck with the notes that the potential penalties for those caught trying to pass one of them off can be severe.
Under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001 a person who ‘passes as genuine’ a note or coin they know of believe to be counterfeit is ‘ liable on conviction on indictment to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10-years’.
“Any person considering buying these notes and trying to pass them off should be aware there is a very high probability they will be caught and prosecuted,” said the source.
“It may sound like an easy way of making money for a minimal outlay, people should ask themselves if the risk is worth the payback. Young people should be especially aware that having a criminal conviction again their name is likely to prevent them from travelling and working abroad in the future.”