Kyabram police Constable Chris Cecrost said there has been $220 worth of counterfeit money passed into police by residents, consisting mainly of $50 and $20 notes.
He said the fake notes had the words ‘copy’ or ‘prop’ written on them in capital letters and usually were a darker colour than the real notes.
Constable Cecrost urged Kyabram Show attendees to be wary of their money this weekend, warning them to take a few extra seconds to check if their money is the real deal.
“Be alert, pay attention, and take the extra time to double-check it,” Constable Cecrost said.
“If you’re not sure, just ask the question.”
He also asked traders to be cautious with money they received.
“It’s more about paying attention at the time ... the more hands it exchanges through, the harder it is for us to pinpoint the originator,” he said.
All denominations of Australian money have similar security features, which can be used to determine if a banknote is real.
Tilting a real banknote will reveal a rolling colour effect, while part of a real note will fluoresce under UV light.
Anyone who comes across counterfeit money is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au
Alternatively, counterfeit money can be passed in to the Kyabram Police Station.
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