5 major scenarios that can make you fall victim to fake Naira notes

A 27-year-old bread seller, Ifeanyi Osuohae, was on Monday remanded in Kirikiri Prison after he pleaded guilty to spending a fake N1,000 note.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr A. A. Fashola, who gave the order at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, said the accused should be kept behind bars pending sentence.

Being caught with fake currency is a criminal offence; ignorance is not an excuse.

It is a crime to knowingly possess or use a counterfeit banknote and it is also an offence to fail to report a fake note.

Nigerians are warned to watch out for counterfeit notes that are reportedly being distributed around.

Below are major scenarios that can make you fall victim to fake currency:

Okada riders:

Most Okada riders are ignorant and uneducated, they don’t know how to identify a real Naira note and its counterfeit. These Okada men end up passing fake currencies received to passengers who briskly collect the money, put the fake note in their pockets or wallets.

Okada passengers are usually in a hurry, their minds are usually focused on where they are going.

Market:

Market traders more often than not lump up their cash together, at times they tie their notes at the edge of their wrappers, profit making is the main thing on their mind.

A bargain that puts the market women at a vantage point may allow her carelessly collect fake currency.

Cashiers:

Most restaurant,mall cashiers as a daily routine count huge sums of money, a slip of attention on the part of the cashier could make the him/her fall victim to being handed fake currencies.

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It is advisable to use mercury bulb when a cashier counts money.

Beer parlours:

Many drunkards after drinking to stupor end up being given fake currency when they collect their balance, particularly if they are not observant enough to check for the texture, check the gold foil, or check the ribbon of the thread.

Restaurants:

Often times many customers fall victim to fake currency in busy restaurants,the customer’s mind is concentrated on the food he/she wants to eat without bothering to check if the change being handed out is real or not.

Con men produce fake money. And the colours they use in printing counterfeits are soluble in water and some other liquids.

If you have a doubt about a note, immerse it in water or petrol and scrub it gently. If it’s a fake money, its colours will wash off like an artwork painted with water colour.