Supermarket owner Brendan Blake warns Ballarat about counterfeit currency

A Ballarat businessman is warning shop owners to be on the lookout for fake money, but says he knows who is responsible.

Blake Family Grocers owner Brendan Blake is warning business owners and residents about counterfeit currency in Ballarat.

A Ballarat supermarket owner is warning businesses and residents to be on the lookout for counterfeit currency after his shop received a fake $50 note.

But it is not the first time Blake Family Grocers has been presented with fake money.

Owner Brendan Blake said small businesses in particular would “absolutely” be affected if frequently targeted.

“It’s not an unusual thing to happen,” he said.

“My job is simply to make sure people are aware of it, not just for their own personal safety, but they will also receive currency from banks and other businesses.”

“More importantly, to actually deter people from using them and to send a signal that these people do get caught – these people are all on camera: we see them all, we know who they are.

“The last time we had the hundred dollar note come through, they caught the person and she was charged.”

The fake $50 note received by Blake Family Grocers.

Mr Blake said it was possible the money came from out of town, or the shopper was unaware it was not real currency.

Regardless, he has instituted a verification procedure to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“It’s a pretty bad fake,” Mr Blake said.

“There might have been four notes handed over and the guy just took them.

“We have systems in place now, so the note is verified by a second person before its accepted.”