Ang Thong: Police Warn Of Fake 500 Baht Banknotes Circulation

[webfact]

Police Warn Of Fake 500 Baht Banknotes Circulation


Fake 500 baht banknote (left) and authentic one.
Photo: KHAOSOD English

ANG THONG: -- Counterfeit 500 baht banknotes are circulating in Ang Thong province, police have warned, after they were alerted by the owner of a construction equipment company who was paid in fake bills.

Mr. Weera Tarmboon, 44, told police he discovered about the fake banknotes when he handed out changes to a customer earlier today. The customer told him the banknote felt stange, so Mr. Weera checked the bill, realized it was fake, and apologized profusely to the customer. He later called police to investigate.

Mr. Weera said he could not remember who gave him the banknote, but suggested that it was one of the customers who have visited his shop throughout the day, buying cements, bricks, stones, and metals.

Police officers told our correspondent the counterfeit money appears to be very convincing, and unsuspecting individuals might be easily duped.

However, they say, a closer inspection would reveal that the small Garuda on the fake bill isn′t covered by serial number and the back of the banknote will show stronger shade of violet color than genuine 500 baht bills.

Police say they reports from other shops and stores in Ang Thong province started to trickle in as well, and they have dispatched officers to inform many shop owners in the province about the matter.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNM01qZ3pPVEl3T1E9PQ==

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-07-03

[technologybytes]

Identifying a fake is often about the feel, it's often very possible to identify a fake with your eyes closed.

The real notes have a texture that is very difficult for the counterfeiter to replicate.

Some hints on what to look for with relation to the position of the serial number would be useful, though I'm not 100% certain I'd want to alert the police If i found one in my wallet, I believe possession of such a note is an offense and not just the attempt to use one. As such, it's up top the discretion of the policeman to charge you or not when you walk into the police station and admit to just having one.. getting out of the police station may cost you more than 500 baht!

Edited July 3, 2013 by technologybytes

[jaapfries]

Yes; quiet correct @ technologybytes - Ergo: don't make the big mistake of going into a bank, with a suspect note, because once it's established to be a fake note, the bank-folks will call the cops and you WILL be arrested.

In many ways this is still a country with a very peculiar system of justice; please beware ! !

[Garry]

Identifying a fake is often about the feel, it's often very possible to identify a fake with your eyes closed.

The real notes have a texture that is very difficult for the counterfeiter to replicate.

Some hints on what to look for with relation to the position of the serial number would be useful, though I'm not 100% certain I'd want to alert the police If i found one in my wallet, I believe possession of such a note is an offense and not just the attempt to use one. As such, it's up top the discretion of the policeman to charge you or not when you walk into the police station and admit to just having one.. getting out of the police station may cost you more than 500 baht!

Have to agree, as the guilty first, innocent second seems to rule here in Thailand and amongst the Thai Visa hang 'em high crowd

[hgma]

a quick check on his costumers list would revail who payed cash right?

By it that he doesn't takes notes...well fake notes.

[loong]

However, they say, a closer inspection would reveal that the small Garuda on the fake bill isn′t covered by serial number

What are they talking about?

As far as I can see, neither of the notes pictured have the garuda covered by the serial number. Same goes for the 3 x 500Bt bills that I have in my wallet.

[Suradit69]

"small Garuda on the fake bill isn′t covered by serial number"

I think they mean the Garuda isn't (partly) covered by the security strip.

From an earlier instance of counterfeiting:

Specific anti-counterfeiting features to look out for on the 500 baht notes include;

- On the front of the note (His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej side) there is silvery metallic/holographic strip running from top to bottom on the left hand-side. The detail of the strip should contain repeating designs of the Royal emblem/seal followed by the Thai numeral for ’500.’

- To the right of the Kings portrait (front of the note) there is a blank space which contains a holographic watermark of the King.

- Inset into the Thai numeral ’500′ printing (bottom left on the front) smaller Arabic ’500′ should be seen written inside, in detail [you'll need a magnifying glass ... at least I do].

- The colour of the serial numbers/letters (bottom right on the front) should be red and change to a luminous orange colour when held under ultraviolet light.

- There should be a holographic lotus leaf contained within a small circle to the bottom right of the Kings portrait on the front of the note (some notes the lotus is partially printed and will become whole when viewed up against the light).

- To the left of the Thai numeral ’500′ (bottom left on the front) is a darken space where when held at an angle the Arabic numerals ’500′ appears.

- On the rear of the note there should be a broken metallic line running from top to bottom on the right hand side next to the image of H.M. King Nangklao (Rama III). This line is embedded metallic fibres woven into the paper of the note for security and anti-counterfeit purposes.

Images are of a REAL note.(and no, it's not illegal to publish the pictures. They're available on the Internet for all to see)

Edited July 3, 2013 by Suradit69

[MaxYakov]

Yes; quiet correct @ technologybytes - Ergo: don't make the big mistake of going into a bank, with a suspect note, because once it's established to be a fake note, the bank-folks will call the cops and you WILL be arrested.

In many ways this is still a country with a very peculiar system of justice; please beware ! !

Great! I was looking for something to light my cigars with to impress the ladies. Oops. I don't smoke cigars .... and I don't the ladies would be impressed either.

[floriamo]

hope they find the fakers soon! so they not spill the money all over te country

[petedk]

I thought about making a new thread yesterday about fake banknotes and now this one appears today.

Is it legal in Thailand to photcopy or scan banknotes?

I know where I lived before it was highly illegal. My company bought a colour copier many years ago and the supplier stressed that was illegal to copy banknotes or to scan them.

I ask because yesterday I was in a shopping center and the copy shop had scanned a 1000 Baht bank note into the computer. They had left the screen on and the bank note was carefully lined up and scanned on both sides.

[thaigold]

Even more disturbing is the fact that, under the bills, whomever wrote the Thai word for fake or counterfeit spelled it wrong in their own language. Unbelievable - what a hoot.

Edited July 3, 2013 by thaigold

[hubahuba]

<deleted>.. ..if you are unlucky enough to have one in your possession you are immediately guilty ..get rid of it ....where????... ..where you got it in the first place.......Ah, ! but then you could be caught and end up. in the Bangkok Hilton .... forever...

[Payboy]

I wish I had some of those for the traffic shakedowns.

[matthewt]

After living in Las Vegas and working in the casino business for 12 years, the best way to tell if a bill is fake is by touch. It is amazing what they can do with the US currency but one thing they cannot do is acquire the paper that the notes are printed on.

[sjjmmi]

Nothiing new here

[Maggusoil]

Yes; quiet correct @ technologybytes - Ergo: don't make the big mistake of going into a bank, with a suspect note, because once it's established to be a fake note, the bank-folks will call the cops and you WILL be arrested.

In many ways this is still a country with a very peculiar system of justice; please beware ! !

Great! I was looking for something to light my cigars with to impress the ladies. Oops. I don't smoke cigars .... and I don't the ladies would be impressed either.

Yes if you're going to hand a fake note in, be sure you know who gave it to you, unless it was someone you like. Even then it is courting disaster. Keep your head down and pass it on.

Myself I am partial to a cuban or two and destroying legal tender is an offence in most countries, so I won't be lighting my cigars with them. As for the ladies, they prefer buying things with bank notes and I've even seen them sticking them up their nose on occasion.

[MILT]

I was a victim of counterfeit 1000 baht notes in the past. The wife noticed it. We didn't have a problem turning it in not knowing when it came into my position or where from. No arrest and no threat of arrest.??

[stickylies]

I was a victim of counterfeit 1000 baht notes in the past. The wife noticed it. We didn't have a problem turning it in not knowing when it came into my position or where from. No arrest and no threat of arrest.??

Of course not, don't believe all these TV drama queens.

[sirchai]

Yes; quiet correct @ technologybytes - Ergo: don't make the big mistake of going into a bank, with a suspect note, because once it's established to be a fake note, the bank-folks will call the cops and you WILL be arrested.

In many ways this is still a country with a very peculiar system of justice; please beware ! !

Great! I was looking for something to light my cigars with to impress the ladies. Oops. I don't smoke cigars .... and I don't the ladies would be impressed either.

I've got an almost real Rolex to sell. Please page me for more details. Guess you have a spoiler on your Pick Up truck.-

Edited July 3, 2013 by sirchai

[sirchai]

I wish I had some of those for the traffic shakedowns.

Paybpy loves to be Playboy. They're asking for only 200 baht because you're speeding and you tell them to keep the change. ( Of course with your gf/wife in your car.) Grrr...

[sirchai]

Couldn't make such good copies on our school computers, as there's always not enough color in the tanks,-

[Suradit69]

Even more disturbing is the fact that, under the bills, whomever wrote the Thai word for fake or counterfeit spelled it wrong in their own language. Unbelievable - what a hoot.

Looks like "whomever" [sic] wrote ปลอม to me, allowing for some sloppy handwriting.

"spelled it wrong in their own language. Unbelievable - what a hoot. "

Have you read some of the threads on Thai Visa written by posters in their own language?? Even the ones written by people planning to come to Thailand to teach English??

brake and break,

their, there, they're

your and you're

descent and decent

and that's just some of the homophones. Far worse can be found with little effort.

Edited July 3, 2013 by Suradit69

[aguy30]

"small Garuda on the fake bill isn′t covered by serial number"

I think they mean the Garuda isn't (partly) covered by the security strip.

From an earlier instance of counterfeiting:

Specific anti-counterfeiting features to look out for on the 500 baht notes include;

- On the front of the note (His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej side) there is silvery metallic/holographic strip running from top to bottom on the left hand-side. The detail of the strip should contain repeating designs of the Royal emblem/seal followed by the Thai numeral for ’500.’

- To the right of the Kings portrait (front of the note) there is a blank space which contains a holographic watermark of the King.

- Inset into the Thai numeral ’500′ printing (bottom left on the front) smaller Arabic ’500′ should be seen written inside, in detail [you'll need a magnifying glass ... at least I do].

- The colour of the serial numbers/letters (bottom right on the front) should be red and change to a luminous orange colour when held under ultraviolet light.

- There should be a holographic lotus leaf contained within a small circle to the bottom right of the Kings portrait on the front of the note (some notes the lotus is partially printed and will become whole when viewed up against the light).

- To the left of the Thai numeral ’500′ (bottom left on the front) is a darken space where when held at an angle the Arabic numerals ’500′ appears.

- On the rear of the note there should be a broken metallic line running from top to bottom on the right hand side next to the image of H.M. King Nangklao (Rama III). This line is embedded metallic fibres woven into the paper of the note for security and anti-counterfeit purposes.

Images are of a REAL note.(and no, it's not illegal to publish the pictures. They're available on the Internet for all to see)

Do you do realize that everyone can easiler get a real 500 baht to look at. Don't you think it would have been much more useful if you posted the fake bills.

[RBOP]

Banks in Thailand hand out fake bills too. Many years ago I saw a customer withdrawing wads of 500 Baht notes. Then saw her pulling out a couple notes refusing to accept them (that a was at SCB). Myself, I did a currency exchange at BBL for US$3,000 all in $100 notes. When I go to Malaysia there were about 5 bills I could not cash anywhere. One bill in particular had a black ink stain practically on half the bill. Even banks in Malaysia wouldn't accept it. When I asked if it was counterfeit they said they would have to take it and send for testing and I wouldn't get a replacement and could possible be charged if it was fake. I eventually found a back street dealer who took it.

[klauskunkel]

Identifying a fake is often about the feel, it's often very possible to identify a fake with your eyes closed.

The real notes have a texture that is very difficult for the counterfeiter to replicate.

Some hints on what to look for with relation to the position of the serial number would be useful, though I'm not 100% certain I'd want to alert the police If i found one in my wallet, I believe possession of such a note is an offense and not just the attempt to use one. As such, it's up top the discretion of the policeman to charge you or not when you walk into the police station and admit to just having one.. getting out of the police station may cost you more than 500 baht!

sounds like the beginning of a joke: Farang walks into a police station...

[Soi Sauce]

Fake Police, Fake Government, Fake Policies, now Fake Notes!

Where will it all end?

Thailand becomes, Goodbye Land.

[Bourne1974]

Identifying a fake is often about the feel, it's often very possible to identify a fake with your eyes closed.

That's totally true I've used the same tactic whilst feeling a pair of something else!

[marell]

Even more disturbing is the fact that, under the bills, whomever wrote the Thai word for fake or counterfeit spelled it wrong in their own language. Unbelievable - what a hoot.

Looks like "whomever" [sic] wrote ปลอม to me, allowing for some sloppy handwriting.

"spelled it wrong in their own language. Unbelievable - what a hoot. "

Have you read some of the threads on Thai Visa written by posters in their own language?? Even the ones written by people planning to come to Thailand to teach English??

brake and break,

their, there, they're

your and you're

descent and decent

and that's just some of the homophones. Far worse can be found with little effort.

+1

[smotherb]

Even more disturbing is the fact that, under the bills, whomever wrote the Thai word for fake or counterfeit spelled it wrong in their own language. Unbelievable - what a hoot.

Spelling it wrong in your own language, hmmmm, you could be talking about most of the English speakers on TV. Now, let's talk about grammar, and in your own language too.

[Suradit69]

"small Garuda on the fake bill isn′t covered by serial number"

I think they mean the Garuda isn't (partly) covered by the security strip.

From an earlier instance of counterfeiting:

Specific anti-counterfeiting features to look out for on the 500 baht notes include;

- On the front of the note (His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej side) there is silvery metallic/holographic strip running from top to bottom on the left hand-side. The detail of the strip should contain repeating designs of the Royal emblem/seal followed by the Thai numeral for ’500.’

- To the right of the Kings portrait (front of the note) there is a blank space which contains a holographic watermark of the King.

- Inset into the Thai numeral ’500′ printing (bottom left on the front) smaller Arabic ’500′ should be seen written inside, in detail [you'll need a magnifying glass ... at least I do].

- The colour of the serial numbers/letters (bottom right on the front) should be red and change to a luminous orange colour when held under ultraviolet light.

- There should be a holographic lotus leaf contained within a small circle to the bottom right of the Kings portrait on the front of the note (some notes the lotus is partially printed and will become whole when viewed up against the light).

- To the left of the Thai numeral ’500′ (bottom left on the front) is a darken space where when held at an angle the Arabic numerals ’500′ appears.

- On the rear of the note there should be a broken metallic line running from top to bottom on the right hand side next to the image of H.M. King Nangklao (Rama III). This line is embedded metallic fibres woven into the paper of the note for security and anti-counterfeit purposes.

Images are of a REAL note.(and no, it's not illegal to publish the pictures. They're available on the Internet for all to see)

Do you do realize that everyone can easiler get a real 500 baht to look at. Don't you think it would have been much more useful if you posted the fake bills.

It may be "easiler," but if everyone can get a bill that they're certain is real, then they must already know how to decide if one is real or not.

How could I possibly post pictures of the fake Baht 500 other than the one the police chose to show in the first post? Do you think I have a stash here at home or possibly that every fake bill ever issued must look exactly like the ones in Ang Thong?

Edited July 4, 2013 by Suradit69