2nd incident of Counterfeit bank notes

Police have received a second report in less than a week where a member of the public was selling a high-value item, only to discover afterwards that they had been paid with counterfeit banknotes.

These two incidents have occurred in Chipping Norton. There have also been further reports in the Witney area.

It appears that the fraudster’s currency of choice is the King Charles III £20 note. At first glance, the notes appear to be genuine; however, there were several tell-tale signs. The edges of the vertical holographic security strip were raised, whereas on a genuine polymer note the strip is smooth.

The biggest giveaway was that the majority of the notes all had the same serial number. Every genuine Bank of England banknote has its own unique serial number. If you receive multiple notes with identical serial numbers, this is a strong indication that they are counterfeit.

·  The safest way to receive payment is by bank transfer. Ask the buyer to transfer the money while you are together and wait until the funds show as received in your bank account before handing over the item. Do not rely on screenshots or payment confirmations shown on the buyer’s phone, as these can be altered or faked.

·  If accepting cash, take extra precautions. Consider meeting inside your bank so the cash can be checked by bank staff and paid straight into your account before you hand over the item.

·  Be cautious if the buyer changes the arrangements. If the person you’ve been speaking to says they can no longer attend and sends someone else to complete the purchase on their behalf, treat this as a warning sign. While there may be genuine reasons, criminals sometimes use this tactic to distance themselves from the transaction. If you are uncomfortable, cancel the sale or insist on dealing only with the original buyer.

·  Check every bank note carefully. Genuine Bank of England polymer notes have several built-in security features, including a transparent window, hologram, raised print and changing metallic images. If anything doesn’t look or feel right, don’t accept the payment.

·  Don’t let yourself be rushed. Fraudsters often try to create a sense of urgency to stop you checking the money properly. Take your time.

·  Meet in a safe place. Arrange to meet in a busy public location covered by CCTV and, where possible, take someone with you.

·  Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right about the buyer or the transaction, walk away. It is always better to lose a sale than become a victim of fraud.

If you believe you have been given counterfeit bank notes, do not attempt to spend them. Contact Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 and report the incident, providing as much information as possible about the buyer, any vehicle used, and where and when the sale took place.

Please share this advice with friends and family to help prevent others from becoming victims of this type of scam.