What to do with counterfeit notes from an overseas ATM (or locally - optional)?

[Deactivated] on 19/04/2014 - 15:56
Last edited 23/04/2014 - 11:53

I have previously received counterfeit notes from a commonwealth bank ATM and as a result had to stand at the ATM for several hours until someone from the bank came to examine my notes, after calling the bank for support. I will be going overseas but I don't want to have to waste a whole day standing at the ATM rather than sightseeing and shopping.

It's a pain in the ass being behind me at the Australian ATMs because I bring a scanner and check each note. However, in foreign countries, isn't it more likely that I will be robbed at the ATM? I was told in China that it isn't safe to count your money at the ATM, but what happens if you receive a large amount of counterfeit. You are basically forced to pass it off to someone else.

Woolworths self-checkouts are also notorious for giving out potential fake/old/cut-up notes, and it seems the company making the machines isn't investing properly in counterfeit detection. However, in most cases the note just looks old and you can just spend it again, the only thing missing is the fluorescent glow which may or may not have degraded over many years. So, some notes might have been real notes at one point, but I seriously doubt it. I don't bother bringing a lamp with me to Woolies but have received several fake notes. You can also feel the difference immediately, because it seems more thin and flimsy, but this isn't always the case.

To be honest counterfeit isn't really any issue as a local because you will most likely spend it anyway, most of the time unknowingly. It is only when you bring your notes home at the end of the day, that you have time to take a closer look at the notes.

So, how do travellers avoid this issue? The main issue is that I want to be able to re-convert back to AUD at the end of my trip. Is it recommended to pay a human currency converter more money for conversion, so that you can have a physical person who can sight and where you can knock back and exchange counterfeit notes that they may pass to you?

Feel free to neg, but add to the discussion.

Travel

Comments

  • Caped Baldy on 19/04/2014 - 16:04
    +53

    You bring a scanner to check your money??? why?

      • altomic on 19/04/2014 - 16:40
        +49

        do you even know what rhetorical means?

        • J6 on 20/04/2014 - 14:59
          +48

          DO I KNOW WHAT RHETORICAL MEANS?

  • [Deactivated] on 19/04/2014 - 16:40

    Do you use this kind of scanner ? Just curious

    • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2014 - 16:37

      Nope, I use the T5. It was one of the good ones on budgetlightforum. The TK was much too expensive for my needs.

      http://budgetlightforum.com/node/2459

      • fruit on 23/04/2014 - 19:22
        +2

        The UV sensitive ink on Aussie notes only work with a certain wavelength, your [cheap ass light] probably won't cut it.

  • altomic on 19/04/2014 - 16:45
    +40

    Woolworths self-checkouts are also notorious for giving out fake notes

    I've never encountered it. never thought about. don't really care.

    • c64 on 19/04/2014 - 18:30
      +6

      i've withdrawn heaps of cash from australian atm and coles/woolworths and i've never noticed any counterfeit notes.

      • eug on 22/04/2014 - 10:34
        +5

        That's the point - you're not meant to notice. :)

  • cloudy on 19/04/2014 - 17:29
    +2

    If u go to the rba website, it tells u the 10 security features of a note. Feeling the note isn't a process in which to detect if a note is real or not.

    Look for the security features instead. Well used notes are still legal tender.

    • cloudy on 19/04/2014 - 23:41
      +6

      I might also add rba website states the estimated amount of counterfeit notesaround , the chances are highly unlikely, and nothing the average person will encounter often enough to even worry about.

      • rapoot6 on 20/04/2014 - 11:27
        +9

        Unless of course you use the notorious Woolworths/ Coles self-checkouts..

        • MATTDAMON on 20/04/2014 - 16:36
          +5

          Which are serviced by armaguard, so what your basically saying is that Armaguard is giving away counterfeit notes.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/04/2014 - 23:47
          +1

          Exactly. ATMs and machines like those in WW read the metal threads in the notes, which of course means it doesn't happen.

        • wozz on 24/04/2014 - 19:28

          lol no they dont. And Armaguard check all their notes, they don't hand out counterfeits..

    • KiLLUMiN4Ti on 20/04/2014 - 19:09

      Someone I know well used to work at a bank a while back and they'd get her to count mass amounts of cash rapidly and after a while they'd slip in counterfeit notes every so often to test her and her colleagues (obviously with a superiors knowledge). They could feel the difference everytime ;-)

    • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2014 - 22:00

      @cloudy,then how do you explain that a senior Const. had this to say :
      "It's a good time for us to remind all business owners to talk to their staff and remind them that the best way to check the authenticity of a note is to look at and feel the note" ? Extracted from here

      • cloudy on 21/04/2014 - 16:24
        +10

        If a police officer wants to give me advice on how to trigger a gun, or operate a breathlizer I might listen, since they are trained on that.

        But when it comes testing the legitimacy of notes, I'll stick with the organisation that prints it.

        • fruit on 23/04/2014 - 19:23
          +1

          I'm too lazy to check but doesn't AFP handle counterfeit notes?

  • AMLagonda on 19/04/2014 - 17:30
    +3

    I think your getting or by this post sounding a bit anal about counterfeit notes, Ive only even seen one fake AU $50 note In my whole life, heard my brother inlaw got one once.
    Not that I would use a ATM overseas, but If I did get a (supposedly) counterfeit note, I would spend it cause I wouldnt care, Im not a money expert and neither are 90% of the population.

    Yes I have heard that they are around and always look out for them, I have a cash business so I see a lot of notes :) ,but never see them.

    • shadowfax1007 on 21/04/2014 - 00:15
      +6

      Woolworths self-checkouts are also notorious for giving out fake notes, and it seems the company making the machines isn't investing properly in counterfeit detection.

      I'm curious if you can provide a source for this? I couldn't find any solid sources to back this claim. I'm not denying that self-checkouts have never had a fake, but "notorious" is a bit rich.

      I work with large amounts of cash daily and I've only ever come across one fake note in 5 years. And the only other time I know of that co-workers have come across fake cash was when the company got the police in "undercover" to slip a few fakes in and see which staff picked it up. Of course this is just anecdotal evidence but seriously? I think you are being just a tiny bit anal…

      If you are that worried about receiving fakes when overseas, pre purchase your cash at a bank before you go? And if it is a larger sum than you are allowed to bring in, organise to do it at a foreign bank or reputable place, not an ATM?

  • p1 ama on 19/04/2014 - 18:21
    +13

    I've never encountered fake currency in my life and I use a fair amount of currency.

    I've also never seen anyone carry around a scanner with them and check each note.

    Also, I question your ability to detect counterfeit currency. The fact that you think "old looking" notes are fake currency makes me seriously doubt you even know how to tell.

    Australian currency is known worldwide for being pretty much impossible to counterfeit well due to its material and embedded security features.

    • arcticmonkey on 19/04/2014 - 18:24
      -2

      I wonder if pollies could get away with doing this? If they did, would they 'forget' about it?

    • kwaker on 19/04/2014 - 21:07

      I highly doubt this. there have been several rings of counterfit cash caught here however the its still reported as impossible. because the government wants you to think in a certain way and most sheeple just go with it.

      • mskram on 20/04/2014 - 13:29
        +1

        Got any sources for that? I always thought they were caught because they weren't a perfect copy and missed some security features, hence almost impossible to counterfeit.

      • Diji1 on 21/04/2014 - 18:53
        -1

        If they were caught then it wasn't possible was it. Sheeple indeed …

        • kwaker on 21/04/2014 - 22:10

          if it wasn't possible what were they charged with? not counterfeiting money?

        • [Deactivated] on 21/04/2014 - 23:55
          +2

          They shouldn't have been charged with anything, since the government also makes money out of thin air every day. Seems gov. believes they should have the monopoly on making monopoly money.

  • RockyRaccoon on 19/04/2014 - 19:59
    +12

    Fake currency so many times - sorry your either very unlucky or just a troll

  • subywagon on 19/04/2014 - 22:22
    +11

    McDonalds excepts Monopoly money sometimes… save it for their promotions?

    • alizzan on 22/04/2014 - 21:00

      So you're saying McDonald's rejects Monopoly money? Seems about right.

  • sheepy on 20/04/2014 - 07:33

    The OP might be a shop owner of some kind? Who are more likely targeted by scammer and hence has much higher chance to encounter counterfeit notes than the other general public.

    A friend of mine owned a mobile phone accessories stall and he had people tried to use $100 counterfeit note to purchase stuff.

    So if you really worry about counterfeit note, maybe just withdraw notes with smaller value like $10s or $20s cause criminals probably don't bother the risk for such small "return".

  • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2014 - 07:41

    There were some counterfeiters caught out in NSW I saw on the news a couple of weeks ago. They looked like they were doing a pretty good job except for a "bad run" they got caught out for. I don't look either but honestly if no one does we all lose to people that devalue the worth of our dollar for their gain.

    • whitty on 20/04/2014 - 09:34
      +6

      devalue the worth of our dollar for their gain…you mean the government who increases the amount of money in circulation causing inflation (devaluing of the dollar)?

      The only time I would check my notes is before depositing into the bank. The 16 year old at Woolworths doesn't give a shit as I doubt many would. It's like a hot potato, the last to have possession when it's discovered to be fake loses.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/04/2014 - 23:56

      LOL, you mean like the government?

    • [Deactivated] on 22/04/2014 - 00:26

      Ummm, yes like the Government.

  • djkelly69 on 20/04/2014 - 07:58
    +6

    If the "counterfeit" is good enough to fool the bank or whoever loads the ATM for them, I wouldn't worry about anyone else picking it up.

  • Sweden on 20/04/2014 - 09:16
    +5

    After 7 yrs living in China I never received fake notes at an ATM - but heard tell of others that dud. The secret is never to withdraw money from an ATM where people can deposit money - it's often used to launder bad notes. If you do get a fake note - just use it at a big market like Yashow or the Silk Market - they don't check notes too carefully and, if they do get one, they'll just foist it off on another unsuspecting tourist! That said - I only received one fake ¥20 note in all that time - used it to buy something at Yashow!

    • wozz on 24/04/2014 - 19:31
      +1

      There is no difference to withdrawing money from an ATM where people can deposit money, as opposed to a dispense only ATM. There won't be any difference until customer cash is recycled, but even then the note readers are more likely to be able to determine a counterfeit note than a bank teller.

  • John-John on 20/04/2014 - 09:41
    +10

    Sounds like you are a really worrier. Likely to spend most of your time holding bank notes up to the light rather than your camera to remember your holiday by.
    If you are venturing to countries like china and those in the Asia region there's probably more risk for rabies, TB or the bird flu. Not that you should be worrying about those either. Just go enjoy your holiday.
    Fake bank notes - they're everywhere.

  • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2014 - 12:05
    +3

    I have previously received counterfeit notes from a commonwealth bank ATM and as a result had to stand at the ATM for several hours until someone from the bank came to examine my notes, after calling the bank for support. I will be going overseas but I don't want to have to waste a whole day standing at the ATM rather than sightseeing and shopping.

    i would have called the police to say that i received counterfeit money … they would have come in 2 minutes and the bank representatives would have come in 3 minutes….

    • fillit on 20/04/2014 - 12:35
      +2

      ATM has inbuild mechanisms to determine if the note is real or fake, otherwise people would spend all day depositing fake money into an atm and withdrawing legit ones out of another. In most cases with fake money, you just need to take a look at the plastic window for the imprintment of currency value and look at the transition of colour through the note, also if you scrunch up the money it won't flatten back out like a normal note.

      disclaimer: employee at a bank.

      • EnALup on 20/04/2014 - 14:24

        ATMs have cameras. Can the end user show the note to camera and then change it in the bank later some other day after calling them?
        I don't understand to wait for any person.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/04/2014 - 10:53
          +3

          "No, you can't. You basically need to stand at the ATM with the cash still in your hands. If you put it into your wallet, and take it back out. They might question whether you have swapped the notes out."

          No. You call the banks ATM service line. They would shut down the ATM remotely. (It can be a couple of days before they send around a service tech, depending on where the ATM is.) Then you take the cash to your nearest branch*. Unless you're drawing out thousands, it's cheaper for the bank to just conditionally change the money. They can then check the ATM reports later and if you're lying they can just take the money back from your account.
          *The branch may require you to go and sign a stat dec with the cops first.

        • Diji1 on 21/04/2014 - 18:48
          +2

          Yeah I'm pretty sure commonsense would prevail though and they would connect the dots and realise that the person who called them regarding counterfeit currency is not the criminal.

          You're a very odd person.

        • RockyRaccoon on 22/04/2014 - 09:28
          -1

          What a lot of rubbish you are dishing up.

          Now to say $5 notes. There are NO $5 notes discovered as counterfeit in Australia.

          But then there are a lot of stupid people who will believe anything. Look at the amount here who have been sucked in by your wild statements.

          Woolworths ATM's "notorious" - hell a simple Google search shows up this thread as the number1 source for this claim.

          https://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=woolworths+atms+not…

          You say the only way you get rid of the fake notes is to pass them on. - Well that's illegal and a crime. Great advice, you admit to passing counterfeit currency especially overseas where prisons are a little tougher than here in Oz.

          Done that off the back of your fake Harley and plastic jacket?

          I think your comments show a very twisted understanding, from someone who really is paranoid and cant even think or discuss things logically.

        • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2014 - 09:57
          -3

          If you look at all cases overseas with people who have experienced the issue, they will tell you to stand at the ATM until a representative has arrived…

          If you leave the ATM with your cash, then you are unlikely to get your cash back as there is no evidence that you withdrew that certain note from that ATM. If you stuff it into your wallet, you have lost your right to replacement from the bank. You may be able to get the note replaced by another party but it doesn't usually happen when you are in another country. Simple as that.

          It might only be 1 note out of 20 that you happened to get in that particular transaction. As a result of these ATMs allowing deposits, you don't really know how many other notes are going to be in there. Furthermore, I don't recall the ATM being shutdown when I called it in.

        • RockyRaccoon on 23/04/2014 - 10:16
          +1

          It might only be 1 note out of 20

          Come on these wild numbers you just float out there 1 in 20? There would be a mass of counterfeit notes out there, more than any other nations currency in the world.

          You are blowing the whole thing out of proportion.

          You have NO idea of how ATM's work.

          Most that accept cash deposits dont reissue that cash. These are kept in a separate bin. This helps with auditing of errors by the machine and customers.

          The money going in is kept in the same order it accepted, and is checked by the machine, that's why it rejects older notes.

          If your logic was correct, that these machines will accept counterfeit notes, then all you need to do is redeposit the counterfeit notes into your account right away and the problem is solved.

          Even when dispensing notes, if the machine detects, say a note that is too thick (One of the counterfeit checks) then it doesnt dispense the note, it places it in a reject bin, to be checked later. (Notes too thick could also mean two notes stuck together - like when they are wet etc)

          All this is logged by the ATM as well.

          Although this wont solve your real issue - duddollarphobia

        • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2014 - 10:17
          -2

          1 out of 20 during the transaction… You probably won't find a stack of counterfeit coming out of the ATM…

          Not 1 out of 20 each time you withdraw.

        • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2014 - 10:19
          -3

          No way. You should check the next time you withdraw your notes. They aren't brand new…

        • RockyRaccoon on 23/04/2014 - 10:31
          +1

          Get a clue.

          Of course they dispense old notes. These are recycled like all notes are. The same as you get at the teller.

          These ATMs are often restacked by places like Armaguard, Chubb etc who do this automatically. They have major counting rooms that use automated machines, to count and check money.

          Torn, damaged, fake notes are all rejected by these machines, before they are even loaded into the ATM.

          If a damaged note gets into the system it can jam up the works, involving a security call, not of just a mechanic, but a security team to watch while the mechanic works, so its not economic to put in notes that cant be handled by a machine.

          While they can be worn, they are still ok. Crumpled damaged notes never come from an ATM, tellers maybe but not ATM's

        • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2014 - 11:44
          -6

          I think you would find otherwise from the empirical evidence…

          Everything in other forums, to people actually receiving notes that are damaged as mentioned below. Don't tell us you haven't received a damaged note from the ATM. That's absolutely a false statement. Sometimes the machine will spit out the fake note, but you won't be able to deposit it again. How it managed to get inside is what we don't know.

          You can even check the person's writing style. Baysew is not me.

        • wozz on 24/04/2014 - 19:33

          for now anyway… Recycling is just around the corner :)

      • Baysew on 20/04/2014 - 18:28
        +1

        I use one of the new CBA deposit taking ATM's (No envelopes). I received a badly faded $20 note in poor condition.

        So I thought that I would deposit it back and withdraw again. But the machine wouldn't accept it.

        Got rid of the next day back to the bank. The teller just put it back into the cash drawer. Didn't bother to put it aside.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/04/2014 - 23:59
      +4

      Police don't do anything in 2 minutes except when in the company of prostitutes.

  • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2014 - 16:51
    -7

    Well, I decided to make a short video showing a quick demonstration between two possible counterfeit and two notes that are real.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCHcHDNjk8o

    The problem is that everything looks normal including the seven pointed star, serial numbers are different and fluoresce to some extent, the window is clear, it is definitely plastic, there is micro-printing of five dollars text, and there is a shadow image. There is however, no intaglio print and no fluorescent square.

    Was there a point in time when the $5 note didn't have a fluorescent patch?

    I will try to make a more thorough video some other time, but the notes look very realistic.

    Roughly 3 years ago a 40 year old man was caught printing counterfeit in my area, so I'm not surprised that it might still be in circulation.

    I guess when I visit China, I will have to be even more cautious about these counterfeits and use the ATMs that are withdraw only.

    However, I did some research and came across this article:
    http://www.china.org.cn/china/2013-09/02/content_29897657.ht…

    • Gina Rinehart on 21/04/2014 - 01:45
      +7

      Was there a point in time when the $5 note didn't have a fluorescent patch?

      Why are you even checking the notes if you don't know what you're looking for? You are clearly unsure of the answer…

      • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2014 - 09:49
        -2

        Well, actually it is clear. It's crystal clear as mentioned.
        http://banknotes.rba.gov.au/assets/pdf/counterfeit-detection…
        On the RBA website's pdf, it states specifically that a $5 note has to have a fluorescent patch…

        On two of the notes you can see that that it exists. In fact it is quite common to find these without a patch for some odd reason. Whether it has come off due to manufacturing issues due to aging or whether it is fake is not clear.

        Now, no one here seems to know if this is supposed to happen or not, so I'll just keep researching the issue until it can be found.

        Here is a document showing where the patch should be.
        http://www.police.act.gov.au/crime-and-safety/for-act-busine…

        I was just asking if there was a point in time when the patch may not have existed, but I cannot find any evidence of this being the case. Nevertheless, I guess it could pass itself off as a rhetorical question, until proved incorrect.

    • mrjames on 21/04/2014 - 11:13
      +1

      Probably worth checking with the RBA but its most likely a different series of note. As far as I know most fakes are very poor in quality and are easy to detect simply by the feel of the note. This is due to the substrate that is used in the note. It hasn't really been replicated illegally yet. In fact, the technology is trusted enough by many other countries including Canada, Singapore, New Zealand and most likely the UK in the future.

      http://www.innoviasecurity.com/Resources/Guardian-Basics/Wor…

  • nikey2k27 on 20/04/2014 - 17:19
    +2

    Used a card it easy. no note no problems .

  • ahly92 on 20/04/2014 - 18:12
    +3

    What to do with counterfeit notes from an overseas ATM

    wipe your ass with them…

    • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2014 - 10:53
      +1

      If you aren't able to get it replaced, then yes, lol. I guess that is the only option if you can't use it anywhere else.

      http://www.business-standard.com/article/pf/got-fake-currenc…

      It's pretty common worldwide. There is no remedy in most situations. You pretty much forfeit your note and you get nothing unless you have evidence that it came from the ATM.

      According to a Whirlpool Forum's discussion, you will lose your note if you hand it in.

      http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1592389

      So, you really need to prove ASAP it came from the ATM, preferably by not deviating from your position at the ATM. Otherwise, be aware you have to go through the other process that doesn't involve the bank. I haven't ever had to use that process but the evidence is quite clear that you will lose the note without compensation.

      So, it's best just to think, "It must just be old, when you know it clearly looks like a fake."

  • lplau on 20/04/2014 - 21:22
    +1

    I had a chinese note with "Mao Zhi Dong" smiling. lol. it was quite amusing.

  • Cluster on 20/04/2014 - 23:00
    +2

    I have never received fake notes from an Australian ATM. Our money is so difficult to counterfeit well that almost all attempts are very amateurish and would be detected long before banks reloaded cassettes in ATMs.

    A friend did receive a counterfeit bank note while on holiday in China. It generally will only happen when receiving several banknotes as change, and the recipient won't notice until they try and spend the banknote. The note in question was for 10 yuan, or about $1.30 back then. It was kept as a souvenir of the trip.

    There are other scams corner counter money changers try (recounting the money because 'they made a mistake' while dropping a few notes is a common one). You won't notice paper counterfeit notes until it's too late. The note passed to my friend was a very good copy. Felt real, but the embedded metallic strip was printed when viewed very closely and under UV light it didn't have the '10' shine up on it.

    Don't worry about it and enjoy the trip.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/04/2014 - 00:15
    +3

    You are fantastically peculiar op, but if I was stick behind you at an ATM I would not be happy with you. I hope you don't have bad luck again.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/04/2014 - 01:10

    Still… call the police next time.

  • ThisJustin on 21/04/2014 - 03:20
    +4

    Woolworths self-checkouts are also notorious for giving out fake notes,

    Notorious according to who? I've never read or heard anything about this.

    • nephilim on 21/04/2014 - 17:01
      +1

      Yea the machines in coles and woolies are really picky, they have rejected mine due to fold marks. Pretty sure all notes are scanned.

      • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2014 - 10:03
        -2

        Maybe I should edit it so it doesn't say fake, but possible fake/ridiculously old used notes.

        If you read the rest of the paragraph, I go on to explain why it might and might not be… So, I don't know why you brought it up. It could be that my choice of words was not that great.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/04/2014 - 10:56
    +1

    Well OP, despite the rest of your post, at least you were smart enough to call it an "ATM" rather than an "ATM Machine"

  • mrjames on 21/04/2014 - 11:00
    +5

    OP is a troll. Most ATMs are serviced by cash handling companies such as armaguard. If armaguard were slipping in fakes it would be big news. ATMs and self service checkout also have inbuilt checks to verify each note.

    • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2014 - 09:47
      -3

      Some ATMs allow depositing of notes…

      The self checkouts are notorious for giving out old notes. Those detection mechanisms clearly don't detect the $5 fluorescent patch… Why this is so, is not clear…

      Furthermore, as the $10 has no fluoresce other than the serial number. It becomes questioned about whether this method of detection is even used at all…

      I can understand that they wouldn't use it because of cost cutting measures. Requiring UV tubes to be replaced at the ATMS regularly would be a pain in the ass, and you wouldn't know when it would die.

      Seriously, we should be using UV detection, if we aren't.

      • fruit on 23/04/2014 - 19:19
        +3

        Most deposit ATMs (except for the very new ones) require an envelope for deposits. The cash doesn't get recycled back into the ATM, it sits there.

      • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2014 - 20:53

        I agree with fruit. The cash even in the new smart ATM doesn't get recycled for circulation. It still has to be cleared by the branch or cash company.

    • wozz on 24/04/2014 - 19:36

      ATMs and self checkouts don't check dispensed notes for counterfeits… Only deposited notes

  • Wormetti on 21/04/2014 - 16:50
    +4

    I tried to buy an xbox remote for $5 worth of change at cashcons and to my surprise, I was asked if I had another 10 cent coin since the one I gave him was Kiwi currency. Someone ripped me off 10 cents :P

  • Diji1 on 21/04/2014 - 18:44
    +10

    Why don't you get out of the goddam way after you've withdrawn your money and let other people use the ATM?

    You can still scan your notes but it would piss me off if you did that in front of me while I'm waiting for you …

  • cowiie on 21/04/2014 - 20:24
    +1

    Had to LOL at this post. Never seen a fake in my entire life - not that I would have realised anyways

    • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2014 - 10:07
      -2

      o_O Originally, I didn't care much but recently I have had to travel and exchange cash. I guess I should just do a bank wire transfer to the currency exchanger. Most currency exchangers are a paranoid bunch. So, I decided to join them.

      Otherwise, I'll have to withdraw from an Australian ATM, get counterfeit and then be forced to pass it off to someone else. It's either I fix the problem at the source, or be forced to basically pass it off as an old note. Either way, it's a service for the community.

      You won't get your money back if you can't prove it came from the ATM.

      • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2014 - 20:55

        Out of interest, what age are you? Or at least a close age bracket?

  • chrisoz on 22/04/2014 - 16:32
    +3

    So many lol's in this post.

  • stemcell on 22/04/2014 - 16:43
    +3

    I think the op should stop using currency full stop and revert to the old trading/bartering method, in this case I will give you 5 potatoes and a turnip for your wife.

    • RockyRaccoon on 22/04/2014 - 20:22
      +4

      No deal - the wife didnt show up under a UV lamp…

      • SirNed on 23/04/2014 - 10:19
        +1

        But she did get a nice tan

  • fertiliser on 23/04/2014 - 10:15
    +1

    OP what do you do when you receive a torn/ripped bank note?

    • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2014 - 10:21

      I give it back to the checkout person… If the ATM gives it out, and it still has the security features, I go and use it.

  • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2014 - 10:35

    It might be that I'm wrong, but come on, how does the whole patch disappear?

    http://www.police.act.gov.au/crime-and-safety/for-act-busine…

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCHcHDNjk8o

    View it in HD…

    • drdolphin on 23/04/2014 - 11:22
      +3

      You are wrong about so many of your ascertations in this thread. Woolworths notorious for giving out fake notes. 1 in 20 $5 notes fake. Take off the tinfoil hat, please!

      • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2014 - 11:42
        -4

        Huh? I never said 1 in 20 notes are fake… lol. Where do I state that?

        There is no much misinformation in this thread. If you read the whole paragraph, you would understand the context. At least provide the context for your argument.

        We can at least discuss and prove theories to be correct or incorrect. You can't just strike it down without providing a short summary on why you believe something is so. Then others will come around and add to that evidence, and eventually we will have the true answer.

        So, it might be that we have no fakes here, and only old notes that are missing security features. I haven't said anything to the contrary without retracting it.

        If anything, we have created a good discussion… Anyway, +1 mate.

  • ThisJustin on 23/04/2014 - 11:34

    2 seconds googling "counterfiet notes in Aus" I found this:

    http://banknotes.rba.gov.au/counterfeits.html

    Australia has one of the lowest rates of counterfeiting in the world. Most people will never see a counterfeit.

    As far as travelling overseas, particularly in Asia, the only advice I found was never trade money with individuals on the street.

  • shadowfax1007 on 23/04/2014 - 13:19
    +3

    Hopefully there is a bargain on tin foil hats next week.

  • reader64 on 23/04/2014 - 13:36
    +4

    Lol the OP is off his rocks.
    1 my wife works at treasury and says that the amount of counterfit notes in austrlai is 1 in 6500 notes so the chance that you will find one very very doubtfull. Standing around like. Retard checking notes is stupid it's the banks duty and the austrlian cash dispensary to make sure it real not you
    2. There is no source anywhere at all that wollies and Coles machines dispense counterfeit notes. And I'd be carefull saying that.
    3. I've been to China many times do not stand around at a atm there white people get robbed crazy over that but counterfeit notes there are rare as it's death penalty over there to deface the note. As t has the founders on the note you can't alter there image . A bullet in the head is one way to deter counterfeit

  • Choc0 on 23/04/2014 - 15:44
    +4

    Hey guys. I've figured out how to do perfect, undetectable copies of ten dollar notes. Even the RBA can't tell the difference.

    I can send you a sample by registered post. Just PM me and I'll sort you out

    FREE POSTAGE
    Cost per sample is $17.95

  • fruit on 23/04/2014 - 19:17
    +2

    TL;DR comments

    Anyway the UV sensitive ink on Aussie notes only work with a certain wavelength, your $0.98 light from DX probably won't cut it.

    • Cluster on 24/04/2014 - 11:32

      I have a cheap LED UV keyring light and noticed that the serial number shines when exposed.

  • Benicio on 23/04/2014 - 19:19
    +2

    I have traveled to over 20 countries and only ever received one counterfeit $20 note in Lima from a petrol station.

    Stop scaremongering OP.

  • [Deactivated] on 24/04/2014 - 15:08

    there are really ppl that carry around these lgihts? WOW dead set?

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