Laois Offaly Gardaí issue warning over fake euro notes

Laois Offaly Gardaí have issued advice due to reports of fake euro notes in circulation. 

The advice was issued as there have been reports of fake €50 notes in circulation in recent weeks. 

“Staff awareness, training and counterfeit note detection all will stop this. We will do our part in identifying and dealing with those involved...you can do your part too,” gardaí said in an online post. 

Laois Offaly’s Crime Prevention Officer advised people to do the following to avoid being passed fake notes. 

Counterfeit Currency - Some things you can check:

• Feel - you can feel the raised intaglio printing on all genuine notes and also the tactile marks on the €200 and €500 banknotes
• Look - hold the note against a bright light source, the denomination (e.g. €5, €10, €20 etc) in the top left hand corner should be fully visible and perfectly formed
• Tilt - look at the colour shifting ink on the reverse side of the high value notes (i.e. €50, €100 etc). The value numeral looks purple when viewed straight on, but appears olive green or even brown when viewed at an angle. On the reverse of low-value notes (i.e. €5, €10, and €20) look for the iridescent stripe that shines against bright light
• Check - you can see a security thread embedded in the genuine note. If you hold the banknote against a bright light source you can see the watermark and the security thread on the note. The watermark is visible from the front and back of the note. The watermark comprises the main architectural motif and the value numeral of the note.  For further information is available from the Central Bank of Ireland.