Fake $100 notes passed around Sydney: How to spot counterfeits
SYDNEY residents are being warned to watch out for counterfeit $100 notes that are reportedly being distributed around various venues on the northern beaches.
A number of cafes, pubs, restaurants and shops in the area have been duped by these fake notes, with police warning businesses to check any of the bills they receive from customers.
Australia’s counterfeit money rates are low by international standards, but the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) says that rates can increase quickly in a short time so monitoring the situation is important.
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In 2017 around 25,000 fake notes with a value of nearly $1.5 million were detected in circulation.
Overall the number of counterfeits were down by 26 per cent from the previous year, but there was an increase in the amount of $100 bills being found, jumping from 3656 in 2016 to 4302 in 2017.
It is a crime to knowingly possess or use a counterfeit banknote and it is also an offence to fail to report a fake note.
If you do happen to come across a note that you suspect to be fake, the RBA advises to store it in an envelope and handle it as little as possible.
You should then report the matter to the police along with any relevant information about how it came to be in your possession.
Don’t worry about losing your money if you accidentally hand over a real note, if it proves to be genuine you will be reimbursed for the full value of the banknote.
HOW TO SPOT A FAKE
Only one of these $100 notes is real and the other two are fake. Can you figure out which one it is?
The RBA has some tips on how to help you spot a genuine note from a fake one, we will reveal the answer at the bottom of the page.
1. Is it plastic?
A fake note may have a distinctly thicker or thinner feel to a real note.
A genuine note is difficult to start to tear or scrunch up, if you crumple it in your hand it should spring back to normal.
2. Look for the coat of arms
If you hold the banknote up to a light, you should see the Australian Coat of Arms.
3. Look for the star
On both sides of a bank note there are diamond-shaped patterns inside a circle. If you hold it up to the light the patterns should form a seven-pointed star.
4. Check the clear window
The white on the window of a counterfeit note may be easily rubbed off, on a genuine note this does not happen. Each note has a different embossing, for example the $100 note as a picture of a lyrebird and ‘100’ in the window.
5. Feel the dark printing
The darker printing on real notes is produced using a special raised ink that can be felt with your finger.
6. Check print quality
The background printing should be sharp. Check for irregularities such as less clearly defined patterns, thicker or thinner lines, or colour differences.
7. Look for microprinting
Under a magnifying glass you will see tiny, clearly defined words. On a $100 note the words “one hundred dollars” and “100” can be found near the portrait.
8. Use a UV light
Most of the banknote should not fluoresce. The exceptions are the serial numbers, a patch on the $5 banknote and a patch on the $20, $50 and $100 banknotes that also shows the value.
ANSWER:
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The middle $100 banknote is the real one.
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