The National Crime Agency (NCA) has detected a number of counterfeit Polymer Scottish £50 notes in circulation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland where there is less familiarity with their designs.
To help businesses spot these counterfeit notes, the Association of Banknote Issuers has worked with the NCA to produce a new ‘Know your Scottish Polymer £50 Notes’ guide. It is hoped that this guide will aid retailers in checking notes at the point of sale to avoid being defrauded by fake bank notes.
The ‘Know your Scottish Polymer £50 Notes’ guide can be found here.
In the document, the key security features of the current polymer £50 notes issues by the two Scottish Banks are detailed. The key security features are:
- Clear Window(s)
- Spark feature – Colour Changing ink Gold to Green (Bank of Scotland)
- Holographic Foil
- Raised Print / Text – ‘Name of the Bank’
The absence of these security features in notes passed for payment indicate that they are in fact to be regarded as counterfeit.
The counterfeits may feature a deceptive simulation of the Foil Hologram and as such it is important that the other security features are checked for example in relation to the Bank of Scotland £50 are the windows in the building clear (see through) anf does the 50 change colour from Gold to Green
The passing (or tendering) of counterfeit notes is a crime and should be reported to your local Police. Once reported, they will require the counterfeit notes together with any other relevant evidence and information (CCTV, description of suspects, details of the vehicle they were using).
The Scottish banks are withdrawing their paper £20 and £50 notes on the same day as the Bank of England, so 30 September 2022 will be the last day the paper notes can be used.
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