By Jolene Ogle
POLICE are warning shop owners to be on the lookout for counterfeit money after a spate of $50 notes made their way through shops over the Christmas period.
In Peregian Beach on Monday 5 December, two women were caught trying to use a fake $50 note in a poker machine at a hotel. Quick-thinking staff notified the police who arrested the women.
A counterfeit $50 note was also used at a Peregian Beach store on the same day.
This year, a customer tried to use a $50 note at a Noosaville store on Thursday 5 January at about 12.30pm. Police are using CCTV footage to try and locate the male suspect.
The next day on Friday 6 January a patron of a hotel in Tewantin tried to use a $50 note in a poker machine and a customer tried to use a $50 note at a store on St Andrew’s Drive in Tewantin.
Noosa Heads officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Steve McReight said retail workers and hotel staff needed to be on the lookout for the counterfeit notes.
“They feel papery and these notes won’t be accepted by teller machines or poker machines,” he said.
The Queensland Police Service also recommend to check for the Australian Coat of Arms, which should be visible when the note is held up to the light. The note should be plastic and not feel overly thick or thin. There should be a star inside a circle at the bottom of the note and when held to the light it should form a seven-pointed star.
The notes recovered from the recent batch of counterfeit money are noticeable due to their papery feel, uneven edges and the clear window added over the top of the note.
Anyone who may suspect a note is counterfeit can phone the Noosa Police on 5440 8111.
