Picture courtesy of Phuketinsta 

 

A Chinese national was detained at a currency exchange counter in Central Phuket after almost fifty US$100 banknotes failed an authenticity check, prompting staff at Lion Exchange to alert police. The woman, identified as Li Yaru, agreed to hand over the notes for forensic examination, and authorities have temporarily barred her from leaving Thailand. The incident has raised immediate concerns about the circulation of counterfeit foreign currency on the island.

 

Police said the detection occurred during a routine verification process when staff became suspicious about the texture and security features of the bills. Officers responded to the call and interviewed Li at the exchange point before taking the banknotes into evidence. Her travel restrictions were imposed as investigators work to determine the origin and authenticity of the money.

 

Li told officers she had stored the dollars for around ten years and had brought them from Macau, where she previously visited casinos. She said she had not attempted to exchange the money earlier and was unaware the bills might be problematic. Her account will form part of the investigation timeline as forensic experts analyse the notes.

 

Phuket has seen similar cases this year, adding context to the heightened vigilance of exchange operators. In March, a Russian woman was detained for attempting to exchange counterfeit US dollars at a local currency booth. A few months earlier, an Uzbek national was placed on a police wanted list following similar allegations involving fake banknotes.

 

These repeated incidents have prompted concerns among local authorities and exchange businesses about the potential spread of counterfeit foreign currency in tourist-heavy areas. Industry representatives say strengthened verification procedures have become standard practice to protect both operators and customers. Police have advised exchange counters to remain alert and to report any suspicious transactions immediately.

 

Forensic examination of Li’s banknotes is now under way, and investigators are expected to clarify whether the bills are counterfeit and, if so, their likely source. Depending on the findings, Li may face additional questioning or possible charges under Thai law. Authorities say they will also assess whether there is any link between this incident and previous cases reported on the island.

 

As the investigation proceeds, police are expected to announce further updates once the forensic results are complete. Until then, Li remains under a temporary travel restriction as part of standard procedure in cases involving suspected counterfeit currency. Exchange operators in Phuket are likely to continue applying increased scrutiny to high-value foreign notes.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• A Chinese woman was detained in Phuket after nearly fifty US$100 bills failed an authenticity check.

• The suspect, Li Yaru, is under temporary travel restrictions as police conduct a forensic review of the banknotes.

• Phuket authorities remain on alert after multiple similar counterfeit currency cases reported earlier this year.

 

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 Adapted by Asean Now from Phuketinsta 2025-12-02

 

 

2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Li remains under a temporary travel restriction as part of standard procedure in cases involving suspected counterfeit currency.

Why not arrest her and keep her in custody until they determine if the bills are real. To allow her freedom with restricted travel well..... we all know how that works as seen with many Thai escaping justice by leaving the country quietly. 

1 hour ago, thesetat said:

Why not arrest her and keep her in custody until they determine if the bills are real. To allow her freedom with restricted travel well..... we all know how that works as seen with many Thai escaping justice by leaving the country quietly. 

Perhaps she was acting in good faith.

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Li told officers she had stored the dollars for around ten years and had brought them from Macau, where she previously visited casinos.

So not enough to declare when she entered Thailand.....

49 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

Perhaps she was acting in good faith.

She knew exactly what she was doing.......

On 12/1/2025 at 9:07 PM, Georgealbert said:

she had stored the dollars for around ten years and had brought them from Macau, where she previously visited casinos. She said she had not attempted to exchange the money earlier and was unaware the bills might be problematic.

 

Who will keep foreign money for 10 years whitout put the in a bankaccount and getting interest?

 

 

1 hour ago, watchcat said:

 

Who will keep foreign money for 10 years whitout put the in a bankaccount and getting interest?

 

 

Me. I've got a 20 Kroner Swedish banknote from a transit visit 35 years ago.😀

On 12/2/2025 at 6:36 AM, thesetat said:

Why not arrest her and keep her in custody until they determine if the bills are real. To allow her freedom with restricted travel well..... we all know how that works as seen with many Thai escaping justice by leaving the country quietly. 

Unless she has a second passport, she ain’t going anywhere -legally

1 hour ago, watchcat said:

 

Who will keep foreign money for 10 years whitout put the in a bankaccount and getting interest?

 

 

I still have a stack of German Deutsch Marks and a stack of Iraqi Dinar Saddam Husein (with shooting the rifle) Bills from 1990  -  both are bank stacks wrapped and uncirculated - worth anything?  10 Baht??

50 Fake notes, she knows the money is not real. 

On 12/1/2025 at 11:36 PM, thesetat said:

Why not arrest her and keep her in custody until they determine if the bills are real.

 

Indeed why not, maybe becaouse she 's  a Chineese

 

3 hours ago, Explorator en Actione said:

she ain’t going anywhere -legally

 

DEpends on her nationality.

On 12/2/2025 at 4:07 AM, Georgealbert said:

The woman, identified as Li Yaru, agreed to hand over the notes for forensic examination, and authorities have temporarily barred her from leaving Thailand. The incident has raised immediate concerns about the circulation of counterfeit foreign currency on the island.

Caught red-handed....

On 12/2/2025 at 5:17 AM, petermik said:

On 12/2/2025 at 4:26 AM, Peterphuket said:

Perhaps she was acting in good faith.

She knew exactly what she was doing.......

 

She may not have....   I exchanged about US$8000 earlier this year.

 

Such an issue crossed my mind - I had no idea if any of the notes were counterfeit or not - all looked ok to me.  3 of the notes were rejected (because there were damaged / written on) and I exchanged them elsewhere.

 

Its perfectly feasible that this woman had no idea the notes were fake. 

 

5 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

Who will keep foreign money for 10 years whitout put the in a bankaccount and getting interest?

 

 

 

How much interest ?? - the interest on bank accounts here is negligible (and possibly the same for her back home).

5 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

Who will keep foreign money for 10 years whitout put the in a bankaccount and getting interest?

 

 

 

Li Yaru.

 

Where's my prize?

5 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

Who will keep foreign money for 10 years whitout put the in a bankaccount and getting interest?

 

 

I even have Thai money that is more than 10 years old, as well as 50 euro notes.
Someone warned me that some 50 euro notes may no longer be valid.

So many questions, not enough answers.

Has her Chinese nationality been confirmed or does she have dual nationality with the relevant passports. Why would she take American dollars from a Macau casino when the prominent currency is HKD. Failing to use any of the money for ten year is curious. By suggesting she got it at a casino means she was gambling of which the Chinese like to do but she never touched it. Strange, gamblers always need money for their addiction.

Why Phuket, what was the purpose for her visit, no casinos, but plenty of currency exchanges. Why would she attempt to exchange fifty one hundred dollar bills without thinking it might draw unnecessary attention to herself, stupid or scared.

Her story is fool of holes. I’d be inclined to think she is involved with individuals distributing fake currency around the SE Asia region. How much she knows about the operation is debatable, but either way she’s guilty of attempting to use fake currency, Phuket currency exchanges have been alerted to the fraudsters and the others involved need to find new locations to dump their fake cash.

6 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Me. I've got a 20 Kroner Swedish banknote from a transit visit 35 years ago.😀

Geezers. That's about 67 bah. Happy days!

2 hours ago, IsaanGuy said:

So many questions, not enough answers.

Has her Chinese nationality been confirmed or does she have dual nationality with the relevant passports. Why would she take American dollars from a Macau casino when the prominent currency is HKD. Failing to use any of the money for ten year is curious. By suggesting she got it at a casino means she was gambling of which the Chinese like to do but she never touched it. Strange, gamblers always need money for their addiction.

Why Phuket, what was the purpose for her visit, no casinos, but plenty of currency exchanges. Why would she attempt to exchange fifty one hundred dollar bills without thinking it might draw unnecessary attention to herself, stupid or scared.

Her story is fool of holes. I’d be inclined to think she is involved with individuals distributing fake currency around the SE Asia region. How much she knows about the operation is debatable, but either way she’s guilty of attempting to use fake currency, Phuket currency exchanges have been alerted to the fraudsters and the others involved need to find new locations to dump their fake cash.

Great questions but so many questions and not one question mark. (?)  lol

I recently exchanged some $100 bills in BKK that were crisp and new looking but one bill was rejected because it had a small ink pen mark on it.  

 

50 notes failed... She's got some explaining to do... 

8 hours ago, kevin612 said:

50 Fake notes, she knows the money is not real. 

Not necessarily. If she knew the money was 'fake', she would have tried just 1 note first, that would not bring attention. 

2 hours ago, Suetape said:

I recently exchanged some $100 bills in BKK that were crisp and new looking but one bill was rejected because it had a small ink pen mark on it.  

 

I recall having something similar once, but having become wiser, I am not fooled and remove it with a little paint thinner.

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

She may not have....   I exchanged about US$8000 earlier this year.

 

Such an issue crossed my mind - I had no idea if any of the notes were counterfeit or not - all looked ok to me.  3 of the notes were rejected (because there were damaged / written on) and I exchanged them elsewhere.

 

Its perfectly feasible that this woman had no idea the notes were fake. 

 

not 100 notes  

14 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

Who will keep foreign money for 10 years whitout put the in a bankaccount and getting interest?

 

People who keep cash on hand and/or who do not trust banks. Have you not read some of the comments in this forum? There is a core group of  people who want to have cash.  I have a fair amount of foreign currency on hand.It is more cost effective for me to always have an amount available because I am a frequent foreign traveler. 

7 minutes ago, jippytum said:

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

She may not have....   I exchanged about US$8000 earlier this year.

 

Such an issue crossed my mind - I had no idea if any of the notes were counterfeit or not - all looked ok to me.  3 of the notes were rejected (because there were damaged / written on) and I exchanged them elsewhere.

 

Its perfectly feasible that this woman had no idea the notes were fake. 

 

not 100 notes  

 

 

What are the tells on a US$ ? - I don't actually know, I'd have to look it up online.

 

If the 80 notes I had were all fake - I would not have known - they looked ok to me.

It would have also been way too late as I was no longer in the country that issued them.

 

So - it is feasible that this woman had no idea - plausible deniability. 

 

Though - it does raise eyebrows that the notes were 10 years old.

 

It would be harsh to automatically arrest someone for 'fake notes' - imagine getting stiffed out of $1000's then you face the added issue of being charged for possessing counterfeit currency.

 

At any money exchange in thailand they are pretty sharp in finding fakes and don,t muck around after. She is in a ton of trouble now

22 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I exchanged about US$8000 earlier this year.

 

 

Actual footage of our own Ricky Big Shot making it rain in Pattaya

 

1 hour ago, Oliver Holzerfilled said:

 

Actual footage of our own Ricky Big Shot making it rain in Pattaya

 

 

 

You think $8 G's... is 'Big-Shot' ???  -  I suppose it may look impressive against the backdrop of your studio apartment... but really, at less than 1cm thick - its no more of a flex thank walking down bukkaow with your latest splaytoed brass...