Garda warning over funny money

Businesses and consumers are being urged to be on the lookout for counterfeit notes in the busy pre-Christmas shopping season.

Gardaí in Cavan and Monaghan are warning, in particular, about fake €20 notes in circulation.
It follows an attempt to cash the dodgy denominations at two local supermarkets in recent days.
The first incident occurred at Spar at Drumacon, Belturbet. When the cashier went to check the tender with a counterfeit note detector marker, the customer fled the scene.
A second incident at a shop in the Ballyconnell area was later reported to gardaí, prompting the policing authority to place local retailers on alert.
Details in relation to a red-coloured Toyota car are being sought in relation to both recent incidents.
A similar warning was issued this time last year after counterfeit Sterling notes were tendered in local businesses.
Gardaí took to social media to warn retailers to be vigilant, noting that the culprits in possession of these £20 and £50 Northern Bank notes, had attempted to purchase smalls item in order to receive the change and then make good their escape.
Earlier this year, fake €10 notes were handed in at a number of businesses in the Cavan area also. This ultimately led to gardaí in Dowra teaming up with colleagues from Castleblayney to search a house under warrant in Edgesworthstown, Co Longford.
One male was arrested and detained for questioning at Granard Garda Station, before being released with with a file later sent to the DPP.
Cavan Chamber president Tom Brady told The Anglo-Celt that, while cashless transactions now make up a larger portion of takings, the circulation of counterfeit currency continues to be a concern.
“Certainly in the run up to Christmas, there will obviously be a huge increase in trade hopefully and, as a result, that'll mean an increase in the amount of cash that local businesses will be taking in,” he said.
To combat the threat of dodgy cash filtering through, Mr Brady commends the Chamber's successly 'Business Watch' group, which continues to operate in conjunction with An Garda Síochána.
To that extent Mr Brady and the chamber are issuing a warning to anyone willing to chance their arm by trying to cash forged tender.
“That's open to all businesses, it's not exclusively a Chamber initiative and, if there is an issue with counterfeit notes, it comes to the attention of our business community very swiftly.”
He adds too that the Chamber Voucher scheme is also in operation, available all year round, and is a good alternative to cash to be spent in businesses locally.
“It can be purchased at Eason on Main Street or through our website, or at our own offices across from the Cathedral,” concluded Mr Brady.