SHOPPERS and businesses are being warned to be on their guard following a string of incidents involving fake bank notes in a west Suffolk town.

Laurence Cawley

SHOPPERS and businesses are being warned to be on their guard following a string of incidents involving fake bank notes in a west Suffolk town.

During the past month a number of counterfeit notes have been discovered in circulation in Bury St Edmunds and business chiefs last night called the discovery “concerning”.

Public advice has been offered by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) to help the public tell a real note from a fake one.

Suffolk police, which is investigating the incidents, last night remained tight-lipped about where in Bury the notes had been found or how many fake notes had been discovered.

Steve Peters, Bury's town centre manager, said: “I'm very concerned to hear that counterfeit money could be circulating in the town and I would urge all traders to be on their guard.

“I'm pleased to hear that the police are taking it so seriously but in the meantime it would be advisable for shopkeepers to buy ultra-violet pens to scan any notes that they receive and if they have any suspicions they should call the police immediately.”

Rick Wildridge, chairman of the town's chamber of commerce, said counterfeit notes were a periodical problem for most towns but claimed Bury had robust systems in place to defend itself through its Shopwatch scheme and good communication lines amongst the various traders in town.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said: “Police are urging traders to be vigilant after a number of counterfeit �20 notes were passed as payment to a company in Bury St Edmunds over the past month.”

The counterfeit currency unit at SOCA said although some fake notes were “quite good” they could be spotted by following a series of checks.

The first check is the left-hand side watermark, which should include a dark Queen's portrait and a light �20 symbol.

There should be “raised” printing, particularly noticeable with the words “Bank of England”. The foil, according to SOCA, should change colour when tilted and a red and yellow “20” should be visible beneath the “Bank of England” title under ultraviolet light.