Police are warning retailers to be cautious after fake cash was used at an Auckland charity shop.
Auckland City East Area prevention manager Inspector Rachel Dolheguy said that a fake $100 bill was used at a Remuera Rd charity shop at around 2pm on Thursday.
Dolheguy said a woman had entered the shop and purchased a couple of items.
“Unfortunately the volunteers didn’t immediately realise the $100 note was a counterfeit,” Dolheguy said.
“It wasn’t until they did the banking later in the afternoon that they were alerted.”
Investigations are underway to locate those responsible for the counterfeit cash, but police are also urging retailers to know what to look out for.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand set out some guidelines on how to spot devious dollars, which includes the “look, feel and tilt” approach.
While it is different depending on the value of the cash, in legitimate notes, the holographic window of the note should change colour.
A person should be able to feel the words “Reserve Bank of New Zealand Te Pūtea Matua” on the notes, as well as the denomination.
Upon tilting the note, “a bright shining bar should roll across [for the $50 note] the bird’s silhouette on the front and the holographic window’s colours should shift and change revealing fine details,” the Reserve Bank’s website reads.
“If you believe someone is trying to pass you a counterfeit note, do not accept it,” Dolheguy said.
“If you find you’ve already received a counterfeit note, put it in an envelope to avoid handling it further and get in touch with police.”
Man arrested for allegedly using counterfeit cash
A 33-year-old man was arrested earlier this week after allegedly using counterfeit notes to purchase items in a “number of stores” in the Waikato area, police said.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ian Foster said the man was arrested on Monday, with police locating and seizing “multiple counterfeit notes which were in his possession”.
He is due to reappear in Hamilton District Court on October 2, with charges of obtaining by deception and five charges of possessing a forged bank note.
Another man was arrested last night after being found with an allegedly stolen laptop bag and a counterfeit bank note following a robbery on River Rd, Claudelands.
The man, 38, is due to appear in the Hamilton District Court on a charge of burglary and one charge of possessing a forged bank note.
“The quality of the notes located differ, with a number managing to pass the tear test,” Foster said.
“The most noticeable fault is often with the see-through hologram image which is often rudely cut or non-existent.”
