Main pic: The front of a Royal Bank of Scotland £50 note.
Business owners in Buncrana are being reminded that fake notes are in circulation in the area.
Gardaí have received reports that counterfeit £50 notes (Royal Bank of Scotland) were being used in the town on Saturday, November 16. Since then, further similar incidents have occurred within the area.
A man and a woman entered a shop on two separate occasions on Sunday, November 24, in Buncrana and presented counterfeit £50 Royal Bank of Scotland notes as payment. They received their change and left. It was only afterwards that it was established that the notes were not genuine.
Two days later, Tuesday 26th, a man entered a takeaway in the town and ordered food. He also paid using a counterfeit £50 note and when he received his change he immediately left the premises without the food. This was similar to an incident that occurred on November 16th at another takeaway in the town.
“We urge all business owners in Buncrana, and across Donegal, to be aware that fake notes may be in circulation and to advise their staff to thoroughly check all notes received, especially as we are entering the busy Christmas shopping season,” Garda Grainne Doherty said.
“Some of these notes can be produced in a very professional manner and the best way to ensure that it is genuine currency is to have staff use a counterfeit note checker pen or similar methods at the points of payment. Be alert.”
The back of a Royal Bank of Scotland £50 note.