Fake $50 found by Kempsey cafe as local business owner warns others

After being hit with a fake $50 note, Lou Kesby at the helm of Lou’s Cafe in Kempsey  reached out to the Mid North Coaster to warn other local businesses to be vigilant – especially in the lead up to the busy period.

Precedence: This isn’t the first time fake currency has been found in recent months. 

• According to NSW Police, a man and woman attended a licensed premises on High Street, Wauchope, in late November and allegedly exchanged counterfeit money. Inquiries into that incident are continuing.

Lou’s $50 fake: On Monday afternoon, staff of Lou’s Cafe in Kempsey’s CBD took the weekend’s takings to the local bank around the corner. They were told they had a counterfeit $50 note in the mix.

Kesby said he wanted to know how the bank knew it was a fake fifty.

“Once they showed me the comparison, it was pretty obvious”, he said. “But when you’re busy, you’re not looking closely.”

However, he ensured his staff were trained to spot the difference and are now on the lookout.

• “The girls are doing double checks now. If anyone pays with $50 in cash they have to get another girl to check it again,” Kesby said. “We’re very vigilant now.”

What to look for: Kesby said once you know what to look for it’s very clear when a fake note is being handed over.  “There’s no swan in the holographic part of the fake one,” he said. “Now we’re aware of what to look for, we can handle it better.”

Not the mention the word “props” on the note.

Tips from NSW Police to spot a counterfeit note include:

• Feel the note – a genuine note is printed on special plastic polymer and is difficult to tear

• Check for words that mark the note as counterfeit such as ‘prop’ or ‘specimen’

• Hold the note to the light and look for the Australian Coat of Arms. This is generally located to the left of the clear window, or denomination numeral when looking at the front of the note.

• Feel for slightly raised printing on the main design of the note

• Look for the seven-pointed star inside a circle

• Compare the background printing – look for any distortions or less clearly defined patterns

• Check that the note has a clear window and that it has a clear printed image: $50 has the Southern Cross and the $100 has the lyrebird, and

• If possible, look under a UV light to locate the serial numbers. 

Busiest time of the year: For many businesses across the Mid North Coast, including Lou’s Cafe, the summer holidays with its influx of tourism is the busiest time of year, and the most lucrative.

• “I want everyone to be aware,” Kesby said. “It’s a busy time coming up. We need to be vigilant.”

The Mid North Coaster understands the incident has been reported to Kempsey Police.

Anyone with information about the use of counterfeit notes is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.