Cops sound warning about bogus money

Counterfeit Trinidad and Tobago currency in denominations of $100, $20 and $10 are in circulation throughout the country. This warning was given by Snr Superintendent Glenroy Woodley of the Fraud Squad yesterday. Woodley gave a few tips about the bogus notes. He said when comparing the fraudulent notes to genuine Trinidad and Tobago bills, the Fraud Squad has observed the following:

• The genuine TT$100 bill carries a silver hologram in the shape of a shield on the front right of the note engraved with the words T and T and an Ibis bird. In some of the counterfeit notes, this shield is sometimes missing. If it appears, it does not have the right silver colour or the images of an Ibis and the initials T and T which are security features.

• Some genuine $10 bills have been altered to $100 bills, with a zero added to the number ten on the front and back of the bills. The words “one hundred dollars have also been rewritten on the front middle portion of the bill.

• The genuine $100 bill carries an oil rig on the back. Some counterfeit notes carry either the oil rig or the port scene.

• The genuine $20 bill carries a gold foil hibiscus flower on the front right side while on the counterfeit $20 bill the flower appears to be orange in colour.

The Fraud Squad head wishes to advise members of the public, especially itinerant vendors and persons dealing with money in areas that are not well lit, to pay particular attention to these features to prevent themselves from being victims of unscrupulous persons committing these fraudulent activities.