Counterfeit currency may be identified during a cash purchase or shortly after the suspect(s) have left the venue (both known in Police terms as ‘Crime in Action’) or later in the day when cashing up. This article explains what action you should take for each scenario.
Counterfeit Currency is dealt with by the Police. Please do not report incidents to Action Fraud.
1. Crime in Action: Suspect(s) on premises or have just left.
a) Notify the police as soon as possible providing:
– the incident location
– current whereabouts of the suspect if known or when they left and direction headed
– issuing bank (e.g. Bank of England, Royal Bank of Scotland etc) and denomination
– suspect description (male/ female, approx. age, race, distinctive clothing)
– if suspect(s) used a car, registration (partial is ok) and description of car
To enable an effective police response, please provide to the officer:
– the notes carefully placed in an envelope or plastic bag/wallet/sleeve as they could yield useful fingerprints
– a copy of relevant store and/or (both if available) car park CCTV in uncompressed format on a USB stick with date and time the suspect arrives and leaves
Please do not bank the notes unless instructed by the officer as they will be required as evidence.
2. Notes found later in the day / cashing up
Contact the police using 101, on-line or in person at a Police Station.
Speak with store staff, try to get as much information on when and how the notes may have been passed and who are potential suspects.
To enable an effective police response please provide:
– the notes carefully placed in an envelope or plastic bag/wallet/sleeve as they could yield useful fingerprints
– a copy of relevant store and/or car park CCTV in uncompressed format on a USB stick with date and time the suspect arrives and leaves
Your local police may ask you to bring this to the police station.
If reporting on-line, please state that the counterfeit notes have been retained as evidence and whether CCTV footage of the suspect(s) is available. If your premises are within a shopping complex, consider speaking to the ‘Security Team / Department’ since they may be able to locate the suspect(s) on their CCTV system and link them to a vehicle.
If it is not possible to identify who passed the counterfeits, the incidents should still be reported to the Police and the evidence (counterfeit notes) supplied to them.
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