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.
Good job OP!