News Beat
Bolton shopkeepers concerned after increase in counterfeit notes
It is currently one of the busiest periods for retailers, with shoppers stocking up ahead of Christmas next week.
But workers at shops in Bolton town centre say that some are capitalising on this by trying to use counterfeit banknotes to pay for goods.
Notes of varying denominations have been spotted, including £5, £10 and £20.
Mary Divya works at the Post Office on Oxford Street, and says she has seen a recent increase in fake cash.
She said: “I have noticed it more recently, with £5 and £20 notes.
“It is Christmas time, this is the time people are trying to pay with those notes.”
Mary added that criminals target this time of year as it is an especially busy time for shopkeepers and they know notes are less likely to be properly checked.
An employee at another town centre shop, who preferred not to be named, said her store is also suffering with counterfeit notes.
She said: “In the last four weeks it has steadily been getting worse.
“They don’t have the braille on the side, or the changing hologram. The hologram is supposed to change from saying the value, ‘Five’, ‘Ten’ or ‘Twenty’, to ‘Pounds’ depending on which angle you look at it.
“They just get better each time they do them. I have worked here for six years and I’ve never seen as many of them.”
The employee said they have seen more £20 notes recently, but also £10 and £5, and that they have all been King Charles III ones.
She spoke about the harder side of dealing with the notes, saying: “The customers can get aggressive if you take the note off them.”
The Bank of England advises shopkeepers that if a customer tries to pay with a counterfeit note, if they do not feel at risk then take it off the customer and provide them with a receipt, before asking for another form of payment.
They are then advised to contact the police or take the note to their bank.
If the shopkeeper does feel at risk, then they are advised to refuse the note and ask for another form of payment, before contacting the police when it is safe to do so.
Cllr Rabiya Jiva, portfolio holder for stronger communities, said: “I want to reassure businesses that they are protected in this area.
“If they need additional support or have information on this issue then please speak to the police, the town centre officers are regularly out on the beat.”
A police spokesman said: “We have received a couple of reports in recent weeks regarding counterfeit money being used to pay for goods in Bolton Town Centre. Please ensure you are checking notes before accepting them as payment, and make GMP aware of any issues regarding fraudulent bank notes at your businesses.”
