Café owner warns about fake twenty pound notes

Legitimate £20 note under a UV light showing a 20 in the middle compared to the fake note below

Café owner Shelly Buxton is warning fellow traders to be on the look out for fake £20 notes after she discovered two in the past week.

Shelly, who owns Shelly B’s Café on Drake Street, said: “I’m just warning people to be aware that they are out there. Obviously we know they have been in circulation before but now they are out there again and they are better.”

Shelly’s brother found the first fake note on the 409 bus at Rochdale Bus Station. He raised his concerns with Shelly who then scanned the note with a UV fob which showed the note to be a fake.

Shelly then came across a second note after a customer presented it to one of her staff members. The note was being used to purchase a cup of coffee and staff were suspicious. The note was presented to Shelly who then scanned it and found that it was also a fake.

“The person who gave it to me didn’t realise it was fake. I had to show them the differences and it was clear they didn’t know. They said they had got it as a pay out for a bet,” said Shelly.

By using the UV fob, Shelly was able to determine the note was a fake due to its markings. Black lines showed up as grey, the Queen's head showed up in places it should not have and the Queen’s head was distorted in specific areas.

Shelly added: “I have this UV fob that I can use and I also have the pens as well. The fob was only about £1 but it does come in handy to have.”

Shelly is also aware of a third note that was found at a store over the road.

She added: “I was told they had a fake note and they didn’t realise until it was taken to the bank. They wouldn’t accept it and it affected their takings. Luckily I haven’t been stung but it shouldn’t be happening to people.”

Shelly has also informed Rochdale Town Centre Management and will be informing the police of what she had found.