Counterfeit money circulating again

The Police Department has issued a warning about counterfeit money being circulated around the country. Usually, the concern is over fake blue notes, but this time it appears someone is manufacturing his or her own twenty dollar bills… a smaller payday, but far easier to pass. Police Press Officer G. Michael Reid spoke about the latest round of funny money.

G. Michael Reid, Police Press Officer
?We?ve seen a number surfacing in the past couple of weeks, but we note that they are surfacing in areas, that the guys are trying to spend them late at night, not in particular the establishments as such, but certainly amongst each other in the street. We find that that is in itself and unsafe practice because when a person finds out he is the recipient of a fake bill, it tends to get violent at times.?

?It seems that with the advanced technology and the use of computers and with more people being literate in that area, more people are trying that. The bills can still be detected if people know what they are looking for.?

You might want to be extra vigilant when receiving bills of all denominations and examine them closely to see if they contain the watermarks, silver threads and other features that differentiate real cash from funny money. The Central Bank of Belize has brochures available, which show you what you need to look for if you are uncertain. Reid stresses that if you find you have been given counterfeit money, do not attempt to pass it on to someone else because that is also an offence. He says to take all suspected fake money to the nearest police station immediately.