Police Scotland have issued a warning to retailers and shoppers alike after the circulation of a spate of counterfeit bank notes.
Reports have been received of counterfeit Bank of Ireland notes, with police asking for the public to be vigilant when dealing with cash.
The forged £50 notes are purple with an image of the Old Bushmill distillery on the back.
Detective Inspector Ian Whittle, of Police Scotland’s economic crime unit, said: “You should carefully check the features on these notes.
“The forgeries are readily identifiable as they do not have any watermark or foil hologram. They are just a plain copy the note and they do not have a security thread either.
“If you suspect someone is trying to pay for something with a counterfeit note, my advice is to decline it and contact the police.”
Bank of Ireland £20 and £50 banknotes are still paper notes and are part of the Bushmills distillery series.
On the front, legitimate £50 notes are purple in colour with serial numbers, the font of which, gradually increases in size.
Their notes also have a hologram above a vertical serial number, a seated lady Hibernia, six county shields, black horizontal and red vertical serial numbers.
On the back of the note is a vignette of the distillery, with the note said to be ‘crisp not waxy’ with raised print on the bank title, denomination, address and signature.
There is a Head of Medusa watermark on the right hand side of the note and a see through Celtic pattern in watermark area.
Anyone with any information should call police on 101 – information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
.jpg?w=600)
