SCARBOROUGH police are on the look out for fake $50 notes circulating the Karrinyup and Innaloo areas.
Acting officer in charge Sergeant Stuart Larson said there had been an increase in the number of reports of fake notes from shops in the major shopping centres.
“Some shops have bought note readers to try and identify the fake notes,” he said.
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READ NOW“Often people can tell; I have seen some and it is not that easy to tell (at a glance) only if you compare the note with a real $50.
“We are assuming they have been made locally.”
Sgt Larson said two people, a man and a woman, were observed allegedly trying to use fake notes at Innaloo shopping centre on May 30.
“They were observed entering the shopping centre at 11.11am; it is not known if they used private transport or a taxi as cameras do not cover that area,” he said.
The pair allegedly attempted to buy an Optus $10 gift card using a fake $50 dollar note at Woolworths where a staff member refused the fake note and the woman used a $10 note instead.
They then made their way to Reject Shop and told a staff member they had been given the note in change from Woolworths when it was refused before a Thingz worker took the note from the pair and called police.
The manager of one of the stores, who did not want to be named, confirmed a woman had tried to purchase items with a fake note.
“She also tried at other stores in the centre, then she ran away,” she said.
Sgt Larson said the note appeared to be two pieces of plastic with a crude print.
If you have any information contact Scarborough Police Station on (08) 9441 6400.
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