Good afternoon,

Colleagues from police forces across the country have issued warnings about counterfeit banknotes, for more details please see: https://www.bbc.co.uk/articles/c9v0epdjzlvo 

We too regularly receive reports of counterfeit banknotes – sometimes just one or two fake notes amongst a bundle of genuine banknotes, so whether you are a customer or vendor, please do check all your banknotes carefully as the Bank of England advises they do not reimburse for counterfeit currency.  For more advice please see: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/counterfeit-banknotes 

If you receive a fake banknote, the advice is to contact police who will seize it: If a crime is in progress, and/or you are in fear for yourself or someone else, and/or there is evidence in situ that could be damaged/destroyed, please phone 999 immediately. Otherwise, report non-fraud crime online, or find out about other ways to report a crime at: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/If you have information about someone making, selling or using counterfeit banknotes, and wish to remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers 0800 555 111

Please do share this important warning with friends and family and encourage them to sign up for their own Hampshire Alert: https://www.hampshirealert.co.uk/ 

If you realise you’ve been scammed and wish to report a fraud that has already happened, please report it to Report Fraud either by phone 0300 123 2040 or online at:  https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/

However, if a fraud or other crime is in progress, and/or you are in fear for yourself or someone else, and/or there is evidence in situ that could be damaged/destroyed, please phone 999 immediately. 

Otherwise, report non-fraud crime online, or find out about other ways to report a crime at: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/

If you would like to report a crime anonymously please contact: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ or phone 0800 555 111

If you’ve been affected by a crime please contact Victim Care Hub for free, confidential, support:  https://www.hampshireiowvictimcare.co.uk/  or phone 0808 178 1641

If you’ve received a phishing email please report it to your email provider and/or forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk 

If you’ve received unwanted phone calls or texts from people you think are trying to scam you, but you haven’t engaged with them, please forward the text/phone number to 7726 or your phone provider.

Thank you – Fraud Safeguarding Team