Influx of fake notes as police warn shops to ‘reject’ suspicious bills

Police have issued a warning after an influx of fake Scottish notes was spotted in the South West. Bude Police took to social media to warn the public, writing: “All retailers, pubs, restaurants etc in Bude and surrounding areas, (we) have received several reports of fake Scottish £20 notes being used fraudulently in the city during the last days.

“Please be vigilant and you can decline payment if you are unsure.”

The problem has crossed county lines, with business owners in Braunton and Okehampton in Devon also being targeted by the scam. A retailer in Braunton posted a CCTV image of two young men online who he says paid with fraudulent notes, writing: “Unfortunately I have just accepted two fake Scottish £20 notes from this lovely pair. Both bought items of small value. Not what small businesses need right now!”

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Meanwhile, staff at the Crossways Inn in Okehampton experienced a similar incident when a man tried to pay for food and drink with a suspicious fifty pound note. Speaking about the incident, which happened at around 5.05pm on Wednesday July 24, a Crossways Inn representative said: “Just a warning, be careful, it sounds like an Irish guy trying to buy a £3.95 minimum (chips and a drink) and handing me a Scottish £50 note (which) doesn’t look real.

“I didn’t take it. Then he said he was going to go and get his card out of the car and (he) didn’t come back.”

If you think you have received a fake banknote, you should hand it in to your local police station.

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