Fake £50 notes flooding Isle of Wight – Businesses on high alert!
Police on the Isle of Wight have issued a stark warning after a string of counterfeit £50 notes hit the streets. Since October, eight reports have come in from towns including Niton, East Cowes, Carisbrooke, and Bembridge.
Spot the fakes: What to look out for
- All counterfeit notes share the same serial number: AJ65238105
- Edges on coloured sections appear smudged and undefined
- They lack official watermarks and holograms
- Notes feel unnaturally thick compared to genuine currency
Experts say the dodgy notes look like they’ve been printed on a home computer. The crooks behind this scam are men in their late teens to early 30s, using intimidation or distraction ploys to stop shop staff from spotting the fakes.
Shop staff targeted with sneaky tactics
The fraudsters often buy cheap items, handing over the counterfeit £50 and demanding real change. This classic “change scam” is putting local businesses on edge. Police urge all shops and banks to double-check £50 notes before accepting them as payment.
Help catch the fakes
If you have any information about these counterfeit notes or the suspects, call police on 101 quoting reference 44170381221. You can also report details anonymously via Crimestoppers.
Stay alert, Isle of Wight. Don’t let the fakes beat you!
