The Police would like to advise members of the public to be alert of counterfeit Singapore currency notes. Between March 2019 and May 2019, the Police have received several reports of counterfeit $100 and $50 portrait series notes that were used at convenience stores, restaurants and retail outlets. The Police have since arrested and charged three men, aged between 25 and 29, with counterfeit currency notes related offences between 25 May and 4 June 2019.
These counterfeit notes, which are believed to be photocopied reproductions, lack security features such as watermark (an image that can be seen when held up to the light) and security-thread (thread that is interwoven in the paper running vertically down) found on genuine notes. Some of the notes contain a simulated kinegram (octagonal reflective foil) which is distinctively different from those on genuine notes. For instance, the image on the kinegram of a genuine note should shift when the note is tilted but the simulated kinegram on the counterfeit note does not have this characteristic. The surface of the counterfeit notes also lacks the embossed feel present on genuine notes. More information on the security features of genuine Singapore currency is available on the MAS website at: http://www.mas.gov.sg/Currency/Security-Features/How-to-identify-genuine-notes.aspx.
To date, the counterfeit $100 notes in the cases reported bears the serial number 3AX412083, while those of the counterfeit $50 notes bear these eight serial numbers: 0FF875629, 3DL273922, 4DZ985604, 5HS436415, 5LV797440, 5LP297324, 5CK878136 and 5JH230011.
The Police would like to remind members of the public to be wary of receiving possible counterfeit notes. If you have received any suspected counterfeit currency note, you should:
- Report it to the nearest Neighbourhood Police Centre;
- Delay the person(s) who presented the suspected counterfeit note, if possible, and call the Police at ‘999’ immediately;
- Note of description of the person(s) who presented the counterfeit note, including gender, race, age, height, built, clothing, tattoo and language/dialect spoken;
- Note the description of the vehicle used, if any, including its registration number; and
- Limit the handling of the suspected counterfeit note and place it in a protective covering, such as an envelope, to prevent further tampering. Hand it over to the Police immediately.
The Police would like to remind members of the public that anyone who is convicted for using as genuine counterfeit currency notes shall be punished with an imprisonment term which may extend to 20 years, and shall also be liable to a fine. Anyone who is convicted for possessing as genuine counterfeit currency notes shall be punished with an imprisonment term which may extend to 15 years.
If you have any information pertaining to the above cases, please call the Police hotline at 1800-255 0000 or dial 999 if urgent police assistance is required. The public can also submit information online at http://www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
11 June 2019 @ 1:50 PM