Counterfeit $10 and $20 notes being used in Tauranga

Tauranga Police are urging retailers and other businesses to be aware of counterfeit $10 and $20 notes that have begun surfacing in and around the Tauranga area.

The business community is urged to use vigilance when handling notes of these denominations and to be particularly aware of persons wanting to swap $10 and $20 combinations for $50 notes or higher.

The counterfeits are a reasonable likeness to genuine notes but on inspection they are smaller, the silver fern and 20 are absent from the plastic segments, the colouring of the Karearea (bird) is darker, and the water mark impression of the Queen's face is missing.

Police are following a number of leads to identify the source of these false notes.  Should any person come into possession of any counterfeit note, please contact the nearest Police Station.