FAKE FIVER WARNING

Fake new £5 note warning as scammers target Christmas shoppers

The new fivers are supposed to be impossible to forge but Crimestoppers is warning about scam artists who may tarket shoppers during the Christmas rush.

ONLINE shoppers are being warned about fake new £5 notes to pay for goods sold on sites such as Gumtree and Facebook.

The new fivers are supposed to be impossible to forge but Crimestoppers is warning about scam artists who may tarket shoppers during the Christmas rush.

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Crooks are making fake £5 notes and using them across the UKCredit: Getty

To work out whether the fiver you’ve got is genuine, there are a number of key features to look out for.

If you’re fiver’s the real deal, the image of the Queen looking at the Elizabeth tower will be gold on the front and silver on the back.

When the fiver is tilted at an angle, the word ‘Five’ changes to ‘Pounds’ and a multi-coloured rainbow effect is visible.

The printed lines and colours on a genuine fiver will also be “sharp, clear and free from smudges or blurred edges”, the Bank of England said.

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If you look at a genuine fiver closely with a magnifying glass, it will have lettering below the Queen’s portrait detailing the value of the note written in small letters and numbers.

On the back of a genuine £5 note, there is a circular green foil patch which contains the word ‘BLENHEIM’.

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If the note you’ve been given doesn’t have these traits, then it could well be a fake.

The Bank of England also advises people to feel for raised print across the words ‘Bank of England’, hold the note up to the light to check the watermark and look for the metallic thread running through every genuine paper note.

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Mark Hallas, chief executive of Crimestoppers, said: “Purchasing counterfeit notes can be tempting and many people do not realise that, not only are these completely worthless, but knowingly holding or passing them on is a crime.

“We urge anyone with information on those making, selling or buying counterfeit notes, or simply wanting to find out more about the impact of crime, to visit fakenotes.co.uk.

The Bank of England said the new fiver was 'impossible' to copyCredit: AP

“People can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously with information on 0800 555 111, safe in the knowledge that they will never have to give a statement to police or go to court.”

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In the first six months of this year, over 150,000 counterfeit banknotes were hauled off Britain’s streets.

In 2015, the total value of counterfeit notes seized came to £5million.

Ben Crosland, Senior Manager of the Banknote Education team at the Bank of England, said: “Christmas is a busy time for both retailers and the public and, unfortunately, it provides an opportunity for criminals to pass on counterfeit notes as payment.

“While we work hard to stay one step ahead of fraudsters, it is important people check security features on the £5, £10, £20 and £50 banknotes when they passed in transactions.”

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Last week, the Bank of England confirmed that the new £5 notes contain traces of animal fat.

It said: “There is a trace of tallow in the polymer pellets used in the base substrate of the polymer £5 notes.”

A spokesperson for Gumtree said: "We have prominent safety advice listed and advise, if you’re meeting someone face to face and they’re paying you in cash, take your time.

"You’re completely within your rights to count your money. Twice if you need. Also, try your best to meet and count money in a well-lit place. It’s safer and easier.

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"When people have questions, our customer service team is on hand 24/7 to assist with any issues our customers might have. We always recommend customers to report any issues they encounter so our customer service team can conduct an investigation."


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