Counterfeit currency warning

Forged Gibraltar £10 and £20 notes have been detected in the local banking system and in Spain in recent days, the Royal Gibraltar Police has warned.

Presently only counterfeit £10 ‘HM Government of Gibraltar’ notes have been reported in Gibraltar but both £10 and £20 notes have been detected across the border.

“In relation to the specific reports received by Police in recent days, the counterfeit notes at first glance appear to be of a reasonable quality, however, they can be very quickly identified as counterfeit as they do not meet the various criteria described,” the RGP said in a statement.

The most striking security features missing from the recently seized notes were: no water mark present, no raised printing, the security thread has no writing on it, is not continuous when held up to the light and is not interwoven into the paper. All counterfeit £10.00 notes detected so far bear the Serial No: 103653, all counterfeit £20.00 notes detected so far bear the Serial No: 801223 and the colours of the printing are incorrect and the images are not defined.

Officers of the RGP’s Economic Crime Unit are currently investigating these seizures, and anyone who may come across such notes or can provide any information whatsoever in relation to their production, is asked to contact the Economic Crime Unit via New Mole House switchboard on 20072500, or alternatively by email at ECU@royalgib.police.gi

The Royal Gibraltar Police have detailed a number of ways to detect counterfeit notes on its website.