Man, 42, arrested after fake cash found in Kidderminster property during 'investigation into counterfeit sales on eBay'
A man has been arrested after officers found more than £100,000 in counterfeit money at a property in Kidderminster over the weekend.
Officers attended an address on Goldthorn Road, Kidderminster where they discovered more than £100,000 in forged £20 notes as well as equipment and tools used to manufacture the fake currency.
A 42-year-old was arrested on suspicion of supplying counterfeit notes on Saturday (January 10) following intelligence work relating to the sale of fake money on eBay.
He has since been released under investigation as enquiries continue.
The discovery has prompted West Mercia Police to remind people to check notes in their possession to make sure they are not counterfeit.
Officers are also warning anyone caught in criminal activity like this they face the prospect of receiving a criminal record, a potential prison sentence, and having their assets confiscated.
Detective Sergeant Matt Robinson from North Worcestershire's Reactive CID team said: “Following intelligence developed by CID we attended a property in Kidderminster where we found more than £100,000 in counterfeit money and equipment linked to its manufacture.
“As a result, we made an arrest on Saturday of a 42-year-old man on suspicion of supplying counterfeit notes.
“An investigation is ongoing, and we are using this case to remind the public not to fall foul of forged cash – learn how to check the bank notes you receive. If you do receive counterfeit bank notes in payment, report the matter to the police.”
Neil Harris, Head of the National Counterfeit Currency Unit at the National Crime Agency (NCA), said: “Bank notes sold online and marketed on social media as ‘prop notes’ are counterfeit and to possess, sell or use them as payment is a criminal offence.
“We see foil stickers added to these counterfeit notes to conceal the ‘prop notes’ text, and these foil stickers are also illegal to possess, buy or sell. In some cases, the supply of counterfeit notes has been linked to organised crime groups.
“The UK’s National Counterfeit Currency Unit in the NCA works closely with online selling sites and social media platforms to prevent adverts for counterfeit currency being made or, where identified, ensure they are removed.
“We share intelligence with police forces across the UK to identify the offenders behind the sales to enable arrest and prosecution of offenders.”
Mr Harris added there are simple checks you can make to identify a counterfeit bank note by checking the holographic foil strip – on a genuine note the wording in this strip will change from the value of the note to ‘pounds’, for example from ‘twenty’ to ‘pounds’, but on a counterfeit note, this word is fixed.
He said you can also check the name of the bank – on a genuine note this wording will be raised but a counterfeit one will be smooth to touch. For more information on how to spot counterfeit cash, visit the Bank of England website.
