Several counterfeit banknotes were detected at Nassau banks as stallholders deposited cash an Monday.
One of those hit was Mrs Azaleta Ishmael-Newry, who found that one of 14 $100 bills in her till was forged.
She told The Tribune yesterday: “With so many fairs and festivals coming up at this time of the year, it’s important for people to be aware that these forgeries are out there.
“I had suspicions about the colour of this particular bill, but it was only when my husband deposited my money at the bank that it became clear the note was a fake.
“The teller asked him if it had come from the festival and, when he said it had, she said there had been other complaints.”
The fake note was said to be of deeper blue than genuine notes. But it was described as “a good forgery” with a convincing watermark.
Mrs Ishmael-Newry was selling clothes and chutney at the India stall when the money was handed over. She did not realise at the time that the note was a fake.
“My concern is that with the arts and crafts fair coming up, and the Jollification after that, that more and more fake notes will be passed at stalls.”
She said those not used to handling large quanities of money in a single day were more vulnerable than bank staff, who handled money all the time.
“I am notifying the National Trust so that they can be alerted to this situation at their fair this weekend,” she said.
Forged $100 bills have been a problem in the past. The CDU’s commercial crime branch has issued warnings about fakes, claiming they were probably printed right here in Nassau.
Mrs Ishmael-Newry said she intends to buy a fake-detection machine for use at future fairs.
The International Culture Festival committee is meeting today and the subject of forged notes is expected to be raised.
Police press liaison officer Inspector Walter Evans said that police were investigating the claims and would report on the matter in the near future.
Source: The Tribune
