Gardaí warn Offaly businesses of counterfeit money

'Look, feel, tilt' is the advice from Gardaí, as they issued a reminder to Offaly businesses this week to be aware of counterfeit money and to check all notes.

The call follows reports in recent weeks that counterfeit euro notes, in €50, €20 and €10 denominations were in circulation in the region.Crime prevention officer for Laois/Offaly, Sgt Graham Kavanagh, is encouraging business owners and all staff who deal with cash to get into the mindset of checking all notes they take in.

“There have been some people who have fallen foul of 'movie money' or general bad quality notes. We want to remind all businesses to be alert and to check all notes,” said Sgt Kavanagh.

"The 'movie money' in question was a series of movie prop notes which entered into circulation in late July. Each note was marked with text stating it was not legal tender; however Gardaí say this can be easily missed in a busy environment where notes are not being regularly checked.

"The advice from the Central Bank of Ireland is to use the 'Feel-Look-Tilt test'. The note should be crisp and firm to the touch with raised ink areas on the front; it should have a security thread down the centre and a visible watermark when held up the light; and when tilted, the holographic stripe or patch should change images and colours.

Business owners are also being encouraged to invest in an electronic note-reading device, which Gardaí say is the most reliable way to tell if a note is a fake.

“You can get a decent note scanner for less than €100, so it is not a huge investment and would earn its keep very quickly,” said Sgt Kavanagh. Businesses who come into possession of counterfeit notes are obliged to report them to the Gardaí and the Central Bank, and are reminded that letting them back into circulation is a criminal offence. Further information is available on the website of the Central Bank of Ireland at www.centralbank.ie/consumer-hub.