Ballarat business receives counterfeit bank notes

Brendan Blake, owner of Maxi Foods Ballarat, said his store had received two counterfeit $100 notes last week.

While he said the notes looked legitimate at a glance, when touched they were clearly not.

"The first sign is that they are screwed up and the second is the waxy feel - they don't feel like a proper note," Mr Blake said.

He wants other business owners to be aware counterfeit notes are circulating so they don't suffer from a financial hit.

"It's a lot of money to lose from counterfeit hundred dollar bills," he said. "It doesn't help pay the bills."

If change is given for a small purchase with a counterfeit note, he said the business lost twice.

He warned other business owners not to be complacent.

"Be vigilant and check your currency as it comes through because it's a lot to lose," he said. "Let's catch this person."

The first time the business received a counterfeit note last year, he was able to identify who used it on the store's CCTV footage. This enabled police to lay charges and the offender was then prosecuted.

Following the two recent incidents, which are not suggested to be the same person, he has made his staff aware of the issue and now every $100 note presented for payment will be verified by a second staff member before it is accepted.

"That will also identify the person who presents it, plus we have very clear video footage of everything that happens in the store."

He hopes the verification process will mean the store won't accept any further counterfeit notes.

The two recent incidents have been reported to police, while The Courier understands there have also been reports from other businesses across Ballarat about recently receiving bank notes.

According to the Reserve Bank of Australia, $100 counterfeit notes are the most commonly circulated. Of the 21,474 counterfeit notes detected in 2019-20, 11, 353 were $100 notes.

It is an offence to knowingly possess a counterfeit bank note.

If you come into possession of a suspect note, handle it as little as possible and store it in an envelope. Note any relevant information, such as how it came into your possession, and hand it in to state or federal police.

For more information, visit: https://banknotes.rba.gov.au/counterfeit-detection/

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