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I wanted to provide you with an update regarding Fraud (e.g. bogus callers, courier fraud, cyber crime), which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey. Online sellers and businesses are being urged to take extra care following an increase in counterfeit notes being used for payment.
With a recent rise in reports of counterfeit notes in circulation in Nottinghamshire, those dealing in cash are encouraged to be extra vigilant.
In supermarkets and petrol stations, people have been attempting, and in some cases, succeeding in using the notes to make payments.
Private sellers advertising goods through online buying and selling platforms such as Facebook Marketplace have also reported counterfeit cash in circulation.
Nottinghamshire Police’s fraud team have released the following advice for those looking to make a sale online:
Use trusted selling platforms that have built-in protections
Be cautious about cash payments, especially for high-value items
Don’t be persuaded away from secure payment platforms by a potential purchaser
Arrange to meet in a public place that you consider safe.
Tell someone your plans or consider taking someone with you
Check notes carefully
Trust your instinct –if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
If you’re dealing in cash, take the following steps to ensure notes are legitimate:
Genuine notes have unique serial numbers so if you have two notes displaying the same serial number, at least one of them is a counterfeit
Tilt the note to see the colour change / foil features
Look for microtext and the clear window(s)
Additional features can be seen under an ultraviolet (UV) light check that they are the right colour(s) and in the right position on the note
Raised print is used in some of the features on genuine banknotes and should feel slightly rough to the touch
Lines and print should be sharp and well defined with no blurred edges
Colours should be clear and distinct – not hazy
More advice on how to spot fake bank notes can be found on the Bank of England’s website.
 People in the UK lost £1.2bn to fraud in 2022, the equivalent of £2,300 every minute, according to bank industry group UK Finance. It said around three million scams took place, with frauds involving payment cards being the most common. Fraud is when trickery is used to gain a dishonest advantage, which is often financial, over another person. Cybercrime is any criminal act dealing with computers and networks. To report an incident of cybercrime or fraud and for further information visit the Action Fraud website at www.actionfraud.police.uk. Get Involved Please consider getting involved by registering for these messages, this will enable you to contribute to the local priority survey. We may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on. Take a few minutes to securely and privately register and have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you. 
Please click here to complete the survey
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