WA cops issue warning over ‘terrible’ counterfeit Chinese notes

These counterfeit notes are so dodgy police say “a child could probably tell the difference”. But at least one WA taxi driver couldn’t.

Police are urging Aussies to “be vigilant” and avoid being “short-changed”, with fake Chinese $50 notes making the rounds in Geraldton, Western Australia.

Pictures of the counterfeit currency — which was allegedly “used for training purposes in China” — were shared by cops on Twitter yesterday.

Sergeant Paul Johnson told Yahoo News Australia there were several glaring clues that revealed the notes as fakes — but at least one hapless taxi driver had still been fooled after accepting one in the dark.

He said the notes were of “terrible” quality and revealed the glaring differences between the fakes and genuine Australian $50 notes.

“You’ll notice in the picture the printer has lost ink on the edge of the note leading to this pink edge,” he told reporters.

“There’s also a broken line across the word ‘fifty’ and across the numerals on the other side.”

While the notes had been spotted in the area in recent months, Sgt Johnson said there were “not a massive amount of them”.

“They’re an aid for Chinese visitors and expats to understand Australian currency,” he explained.

“When you see it in person it borders on toy money. A child could probably tell the difference.”

Please be vigilant and don’t get short changed. Fake Australian currency used for training purposes in China is being used in Gero. #fb pic.twitter.com/387nEKdD4c

— Geraldton Police (@GeraldtonPol) June 13, 2019

The fake notes also lack the clear windows found on genuine Australian notes and also have security numbers and Chinese characters stamped on them.

Residents are encouraged to check their wallets and report any fake notes to police.

While counterfeit cash is a serious problem, many Aussies haven’t been able to resist having a cheeky laugh at the fakes’ poor quality — and the warning shared by police.

“Ahhh, I’m pretty sure people can figure it out themselves. No vigilance needed thank you,” one Twitter user posted, while another added: “How thick do you have to be? ‘Difficult to spot in the dark’? Turn on your interior light, the fakeness sticks out like a dog’s b***s.”

Earlier this year, similar fake $20 notes turned up in the Northern Rivers area near the Queensland border.

NSW Police said at the time the notes were also supposedly used to train Chinese bank tellers before being used illegally in Australia.

Those notes were also marked with Chinese characters and missing the telltale clear window present in Australian currency.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has also issued a warning over counterfeit currency, claiming it uncovers tens of thousands of forged notes each year.

The RBA warned Australians to be careful because you won’t be compensated for handing in a fake — and if you attempt to spend it, you could even be committing a crime.

To make sure you’re in the clear, here are the signs you need to know about.

1. Is it plastic?

Australian banknotes are printed on plastic and have a distinct feel. A suspect banknote may feel excessively thick or thin compared with a genuine banknote. It is difficult to start a tear along the edge of a genuine banknote. You can also try scrunching the banknote in your hand — a genuine banknote should spring back.

2. Look for the coat of arms.

If you hold the banknote to the light, you should see the Australian coat of arms.

3. Look for the star.

Diamond-shaped patterns are printed inside a circle on both sides of the banknote. If you hold the banknote up to the light, the patterns should line up perfectly to form a seven-pointed star.

4. Check the clear window.

The clear window should be an integral part of the banknote and not an addition. Check that the white image printed on the window cannot be easily rubbed off. Also look for the embossing — there is a wave pattern in the window of the $10 banknote and the value of the banknote in the windows of $20, $50 and $100 banknotes.

Continue the conversation @carey_alexis | [e-mail]