WARNING: False R200 notes trick Ontdekkers businesses

Several businesses on the Ontdekkers Road service road nearly fell victim to a new scam.

One business fell victim a few months ago when two young boys approached their premises. One boy came in, asking to exchange a R200 note for smaller change.

“We later found that the R200 note was fake,” the receptionist told the News.

According to her the same two boys have tried their luck at their business at least three times within the last year. She said other businesses also claimed the boys have been in their shops, allegedly trying to get change for taxi fares.

“The face of the one who asks for change is covered with a cap. You can’t really see his face,” she said.

The business receptionist said even if you initially tell them you can’t help them, they will go as far as asking for only a R100 note in turn for his R200.

Sergeant Tshepiso Mashale, police spokesperson told the News no cases of this nature have been opened at the Krugersdorp Police Station recently, but urges the public to do so.

“It is possible these young children are sent by adults to exchange the fake R200 notes for real money,” she said.

“If you own a business, invest in a scanning machine that checks if a banknote is real.”

Alternatively, according to the South African Reserve Bank, a real banknote has certain security features to look for:

• A watermark formed within the paper.

When held up to the light, the image is visible on the note. It will not produce on colour copiers.

• A security thread running through the banknote.

A special thread is woven into the paper. On the front it looks like a silver stripe. When held up to direct light, it appears as a continuous line on which the letters ‘SARB’ can be seen.

• High quality paper.

Members of the public have reported that they recognise a fake banknote by the texture of the paper

• Print quality.

The fineness of the print quality on a genuine banknote is difficult for scanners to resolve properly. Intaglio printing, where thick ink lends a raised surface to the print surface, is difficult to reproduce cheaply.

Related articles:

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• Warning: Businesses on Voortrekker Road targeted