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Spot the difference: Businesses warned of rise of counterfeit notes

By Jemma Jones

Feb 3, 2026

Can you spot the difference in these bank notes? Photo by Contributed

Campaspe businesses are urging extra vigilance after several fake banknotes were discovered in cash registers.

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An Echuca business owner said they accidentally accepted a $100 counterfeit note last month, and warned other businesses to be careful.

In January, Kyabram police said they had been investigating a spate of counterfeit $100 and $50 notes floating around.

Kyabram police Acting Sergeant Russell Locke urged residents to “check your money” before using it at businesses.

He said the notes that had been passed in usually had the words ‘prop’ or ‘copy’ written in the right corner and were usually a darker colour than the real notes.

All denominations of Australian money have similar security features, which can be used to determine if a banknote is real.

Genuine banknotes display a distinctive colour-changing effect when tilted, and certain sections will glow under ultraviolet light.

Answers to our spot the difference challenge: The green is darker, it has 'PROPS' written on the bottom right corner, there is a '100' missing in the lyrebird window and the font isn’t clear. Photo by Contributed

Community members who encounter suspected counterfeit currency should immediately report it to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through crimestoppersvic.com.au

Alternatively, counterfeit money can be handed in to the Kyabram police station.

For more information on how to detect phoney money, head to the Reserve Bank of Australia website at banknotes.rba.gov.au