Australian Federal Police (AFP) has issued a warning to retailers and the public to be vigilant for fake currency in circulation in the lead up to Chinese New Year celebrations on Saturday (25 January).
AFP Detective Superintendent Jayne Crossling said the AFP was aware of an increase in the importation of ‘joss paper’ and ‘Chinese Training Notes’, printed to resemble Australian banknotes and used as part of the Luna New Year festivities.
Det Supt Crossling said the AFP and its State law enforcement partners had detected and seized a number of shipments of joss paper with a ‘face value’ of more than $17.3 million since 2014.
“The differences between imitation notes used in these celebrations and Australian currency may appear obvious to most,” Det Supt Crossling said.
“However we’ve seen over $500,000 (face value) of joss paper, which appears to replicate Australian currency, passed through an assortment of retailers, licensed venues and family run businesses over this same period,” she said.
She reminded the public of the security features present on all genuine Australian banknotes when determining if currency is real or fake.
“Australian currency is also made from more durable materials, specifically polymer, compared to paper-based currencies that these fake notes usually consist of,” she said.
Det Supt Crossling said the AFP, together with the Reserve Bank of Australia and partner agencies, would be working to manage the threat of counterfeiting in Australia.
“The importation, sale, possession and usage of these fake banknotes, with the intention of leading a retailer to believe that it is genuine Australian currency, constitute offences under the Crimes (Currency) Act 1981,” she said.
She said penalties for offences within the Act ranged from fines of up to $2,000 and a maximum of 12 years imprisonment.
