Police have issued fresh guidance for businesses and other Kiwis after allegedly counterfeit banknotes emerged in Auckland recently.
Two women are set to face court today over the alleged use of fake cash in the Pukekohe area.
They were taken into custody after a "string of incidents" beginning September 25, when a stolen vehicle drove off from an East Tamaki petrol station without paying for fuel.
Weeks later on November 17, the vehicle was spotted in Pukekohe by an officer.
"One of our police units stopped the same stolen vehicle in a car park and found the two alleged offenders inside," Counties Manukau South Area Commander Inspector Joe Hunter said. "The vehicle had an illegal, manufactured registration plate, and the plate of another vehicle attached.
"Our staff invoked a search of the vehicle and its occupants and found various items of drug paraphernalia and a small quantity of methamphetamine.
"We also found 41 counterfeit $50 banknotes, and five $5 counterfeit notes in the handbag of one of the offenders, as well as three counterfeit $50 banknotes in the glove box."
Police had received "a handful" of recent complaints about forged or counterfeit banknotes from retailers in the Pukekohe area.
The two women, aged 39 and 35, face various charges of theft, bail breach and possessing forged banknotes.
Could you tell if a banknote was fake?
The announcement of today's court appearance came with a warning from police.
Anyone who receives counterfeit cash is urged to contact police on 105 as soon as possible.
"If you believe someone is trying to pass you a counterfeit note, do not accept it," a police spokesperson said in a statement.
"If you find you've already received a counterfeit note, put it in an envelope to avoid handling it further and get in touch with police."
If possible, police would ask for footage and still images of anyone using or trying to use fake cash.
And it's important that businesses know how to tell the difference, the statement added.
"The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has clear guides outlining security features of New Zealand bank notes and how to spot counterfeit notes, including a downloadable PDF quick guide, on their website.
"Security features are the same on all denominations."
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