Fraud – Novelty Notes

Detective Sergeant Ciarán Loughrey was in studio to inform the public, retailers and businesses of the novelty bank notes that are currently in circulation.

These counterfeit notes are known as ‘prop money’ or ‘movie money.’ They look like genuine euro notes but they do not contain any security features and there is no attempt to replicate any of the normal security features on genuine bank notes.

The words ‘prop’ or ‘movie’ money can be seen on the notes but this can be very difficult to see. Large quantities of these notes are thought to have been imported from countries like China and Taiwan.

Revenue Commissioners have seized notes with a purported value in excess of €430,000 in recent months at different mail centres. Detective Sergeant Loughrey advised members of the public, retailers and businesses who deal in cash to take precautionary measures.

It should be noted that a person who is caught passing these notes may be arrested and prosecuted which could result in a criminal conviction and have serious consequences in terms of working in certain sectors or applying for visas in the future.