Hope Island woman falls victim to fake money scam

A hard-working Gold Coast woman has been tricked into handing over goods she was selling online to a man who paid with high quality counterfeit notes. Now she’s warning others how to avoid being caught out.

A HARDWORKING suburban mother selling household goods online has been duped out of $400 by a buyer who paid with high quality counterfeit banknotes.

Nicky Smith said the man even counted the $50 notes in front of her when he came to her Hope Island home to collect an electronic cutting machine she sold through Facebook Marketplace. She only noticed the notes were fake the next morning.

Other Gold Coast residents said they have had similar experiences with the same man after Ms Smith posted about her horror sale on social media.

One of the fake notes (below) compared with the real thing (above).

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN: JUST $1 A WEEK FOR FIRST 12 WEEKS

His minimal Facebook profile featured the photo of a dog and he insisted coming when it was dark, Ms Smith told the Bulletin.

“He had a big hoodie, a hat and what looked like fake blonde hair,” Ms Smith said.

“He said he could only come at night-time.

“He counted the $50 notes in front of me, folded them and handed it over – they looked legitimate.”

The buyer told Ms Smith the machine would be used to make hand and foot castings for babies.

The counterfeit notes he handed her have a different texture and colour from the real thing and vary in detail.

The incident has been reported to police, who confirmed to the Bulletin that they are investigating the matter.

Freedom Fuels in Southport has also been handed counterfeit notes. Picture: Jerad Williams

MORE NEWS

Ikea’s $105 ‘insult’ to Coast mum

Cops to hoons: ‘We’ll take your cars and crush them’

Why Coast MP says he’ll tie himself to a tree

The case comes only a month after a Southport service station owner warned about counterfeit notes in circulation on the Gold Coast.

Brett Lambert from Freedom Fuel St Clair’s said the notes were “hard to identify” because of their high print quality.

Police also sent a warning to the public earlier this year after a couple was tricked while selling an iPhone on Gumtree.

The buyer paid $650 in cash for the phone before the couple realised the notes were fake.

Ms Smith is urging others selling items online to be aware of the danger of being handed counterfeit money and to take precautions.

“Do the pick-up in broad daylight, and make sure someone else is with you,” she said.

“Check your money and if something doesn’t feel right, trust your intuition.”

HOW TO SPOT FAKE NOTES

• Hold the note up to the light to see a seven-pointed star and the Australian Coat of Arms
• Tilt to see the bird’s wings move and change colour, and the number change direction
• Check clear window is part of the banknote
• Use a UV light to see features fluoresce
• Tilt to see a rolling colour effect
• Use a UV light to see features fluoresce
• Check the serial numbers on the banknote