I tweeted about this yesterday but I'll post it here to make sure people know about it. Especially to shop keepers of Tonbridge: Watch out for fake fifty pound notes. I was very nearly caught out yesterday and would have been £35 plus four books down if I'd fell for it. Even though he was friendly, chatty and smiley something did smell bad, I sensed something wasn't quite right so I didn't accept the note even though it passed the ultra violet light test (at least partially.) It wasn't just the note but the man himself: he was smartly turned out with a slightly well spoken accent but that didn't sit right with his tattoos and very shaven head. My good nature though was telling me not to judge people and, like I said he was a chirpy chappy. He was trying to pass himself off as a bit of a young professional, city trader type, going away for the weekend; so it was believable enough. He also chose his books rather too quickly which sent a signal to me that he hadn't really been too bothered what they were. Also he was interested in True Crime which maybe was his way of taking the micky, having one over on me! When it came to payment he then said he had a company credit card which he could use so the only note he had was the fifty! A bit too slick I thought, so made my excuses about not wanting to be wiped out of change which was sort of true anyway. There are quite a few checks retailers can make on banknotes to verify that they are genuine but most of the time we don't have time or don't think there's a problem. With a £50 note though that's a heck of a hit if it turns out to be a fake. I realised for certain afterwards that the note was a fake because, firstly, it felt too new and smooth (real ones have slightly raised print) and under ultra violet light it showed up a "50" which cannot be seen by the naked eye but, crucially, not the thick green line which should show up bright under the light. There are several other checks worth knowing about and the Bank of England web site illustrates them for each banknote in a very handy guide. I would urge every shop keeper to cram up on this because fakes are getting more like the real thing. Needless to say the fraudster/thief didn't return for the four books I saved for him while he went off "for some lunch" No doubt he went on to some other poor unsuspecting small trader to rip them off instead of me....Thursday, July 11, 2013
Watch out for Fake Fifties....
I tweeted about this yesterday but I'll post it here to make sure people know about it. Especially to shop keepers of Tonbridge: Watch out for fake fifty pound notes. I was very nearly caught out yesterday and would have been £35 plus four books down if I'd fell for it. Even though he was friendly, chatty and smiley something did smell bad, I sensed something wasn't quite right so I didn't accept the note even though it passed the ultra violet light test (at least partially.) It wasn't just the note but the man himself: he was smartly turned out with a slightly well spoken accent but that didn't sit right with his tattoos and very shaven head. My good nature though was telling me not to judge people and, like I said he was a chirpy chappy. He was trying to pass himself off as a bit of a young professional, city trader type, going away for the weekend; so it was believable enough. He also chose his books rather too quickly which sent a signal to me that he hadn't really been too bothered what they were. Also he was interested in True Crime which maybe was his way of taking the micky, having one over on me! When it came to payment he then said he had a company credit card which he could use so the only note he had was the fifty! A bit too slick I thought, so made my excuses about not wanting to be wiped out of change which was sort of true anyway. There are quite a few checks retailers can make on banknotes to verify that they are genuine but most of the time we don't have time or don't think there's a problem. With a £50 note though that's a heck of a hit if it turns out to be a fake. I realised for certain afterwards that the note was a fake because, firstly, it felt too new and smooth (real ones have slightly raised print) and under ultra violet light it showed up a "50" which cannot be seen by the naked eye but, crucially, not the thick green line which should show up bright under the light. There are several other checks worth knowing about and the Bank of England web site illustrates them for each banknote in a very handy guide. I would urge every shop keeper to cram up on this because fakes are getting more like the real thing. Needless to say the fraudster/thief didn't return for the four books I saved for him while he went off "for some lunch" No doubt he went on to some other poor unsuspecting small trader to rip them off instead of me....
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Sounds like you did the right thing; I never liked accepting £50 notes when I had my shop. As you say there's just to much of a hit to take if the note does turn out to be a fake.
Having said that, in almost six years of trading, and paying in cash twice a week at the bank, I don't ever recall the cashiers giving the notes anything more than a cursory glance as they counted them at lightning speed. Certainly none of the checks you describe were applied.
This might explain why banks themselves have been known to give out dud notes, both over the counter and via their ATM's. Trouble is if a cash machine dispenses you a fake note what recourse do you have with the bank, bearing in mind you would never be able to prove it came from the machine in the first place?
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