The Bermuda Police Service Financial Crime Unit is continuing to advise the public to remain vigilant regarding counterfeit currency. The counterfeit Bermuda $100 notes [shown bottom right, click photo to enlarge] currently making the rounds are the older notes – not the new ones. Merchants are reminded to ensure their employees are aware of the importance of taking a few seconds to examine the money they are taking in, especially the larger denominations. Please check all currency for common security features which include:

• Metallic security thread
• Watermarks
• Paper quality

In order to distinguish a genuine Bermuda note from a fake one, look for the tuna fish watermark (to the left of the note), the silver foil strip (just right of the tuna fish watermark) and the silver ship (to the right of the note).

Also, check to see if the ink 'runs.' Most counterfeit in circulation is being generated on ink jet printers, and the ink will 'run' [shown bottom right, click photo to enlarge] if it gets wet. Genuine currency will not do this.

Some fake U.S. cash is also being passed at local establishments.

The public is reminded that it is a criminal offence to:

• pass to another
• possess
• make
• reproduce

any counterfeit currency, punishable by up to 5 years in prison.