Where are you heading on your next vacation? Wherever it is you are probably going to stick out like a sore thumb. But who cares, you are having fun. Don’t let their stares get you rattled, it is your vacation and you worked hard to pay for it - so what if they snicker. Oh, just make sure you don’t get taken advantage of. Tourists and foreigners are prime targets for counterfeiters, they aren’t very familiar with the local currency and are set to relax mode so their suspicious sensors are turned way down. Check out this story from the Gazette about how counterfeiters are going strong in the UK.

POLICE in Cleveleys today warned traders to be on the lookout for fake cash.
A man ran from a shop in the town after trying to pay for goods with a counterfeit £20.

Now PC Quentin Allen, Cleveleys’ community beat manager, is concerned more dodgy notes may be in circulation.

PC Allen said: “We have only had one incident so far, but I’m urging shop staff to be on the lookout.

“These are counterfeits of the new £20 note.

“It hasn’t been in circulation for very long so people are only just getting used to them.

“That makes spotting what is a very good fake even harder.”

PC Allen was alerted to the fake currency on Friday last week when a man tried to spend one of the notes in a bakery store in the town centre.

He said: “The man wanted to pay for something of a very low value with a £20 note.

Suspicious

“Fortunately, the staff member had a special pen which can identify a fake.

“When she tested the note she was worried and said she would have to call the police.

“At that point the man turned and ran out of the door.

“It’s obvious he knew what he was doing.”

PC Allen is also worried about a woman spotted in the town acting suspiciously with large quantities of cash.

He said: “There is a woman in the town who has been pulling £20 notes from a large wad in her boots.

“That is certainly unusual and we are concerned she may also be involved.”

PC Allen said traders in the town should take precautions to prevent fake currency falling into their hands.

He said: “All stores should have the special pens which can identify a fake.

“They cost virtually nothing but could end up saving someone a fortune.”

Police are now hunting the man who ran from the store.

PC Allen said: “We do want to speak to him, to see how he is involved.

“The man was in his early 20s, with short, black hair.

“He was scruffy with no teeth and wore a black three quarter length anorak.”

So rather then spend your precious vacation days nervous or worried invest a mere eleven dollars and twenty nine cents (way less than you will tip the bellman) in a shiny new Universal Counterfeit Detector Pen and enjoy your well deserved retreat.