Police take write approach to track counterfeit notes

Published: 2 April 2010
by PETER GRUNER

POLICE handed out anti-fraud pens in Islington this week in an effort to crack down on traders receiving fake bank notes.

It follows a spate of incidents where shopkeepers and stall-holders were being defrauded by customers who handed over sophisticated £10, £20 and £50 notes.

The black pens were given out free on Tuesday to shop-keepers in Upper Street and Camden Passage and to stall-holders in Chapel ­Market.

The anti-fraud campaign is jointly organised by police and Christine Lovett, director of the business group Angel Aim.

If a note comes up with coloured black, brown or purple ink after a simple scrawl with a pen, then it is counterfeit. If the mark is clear or has a tinge of yellow, then the note is genuine.

David Twydell, chairman   of the Chapel Market Traders Association, said he’s learnt to spot a dud note based on years of experience.

Mr Twydell said: “I handle money all day long and you get to know duds. In a couple of cases I’ve been given duds and I’ve handed them back. I could tell by the paper they were not real £20 notes.”

Pc Ashleen McNamara of the Angel police team said forged notes have been a big problem because traders don’t always think to check relatively small notes.

“But we’ve had shopkeepers handed a couple of £50 notes and that really hurts. Forgers are getting ever more sophisticated and resourceful, including even washing the notes in a washing machine to give them that used look.”

She advised traders to look at the behaviour of the customer if they suspect fake notes and study the pictures.

Sini Miah, supervisor at jewellers Ernest James at the N1 Centre, said they had received a number of fake notes before they were able to use the anti fraud pen to identify them.  

“We knew the notes were not right by the texture of the paper and the position of the Queen.”