Public cautioned against fake money users

The Ashanti Regional Command of the Ghana Police Service has cautioned the public to be wary of persons who purchase items with high currency dominations because they might be fake. The caution follows an arrest of 16 persons in the region on May 24 and May 29, 2020, suspected to be dealing in fake Ghanaian currency.

The suspects who were all females, between the ages of 17 and 40 years, were arrested at separate locations after reports were made against them and their activities.

A statement issued by the Public Relations Department of the Service in the Region and signed by Godwin Ahianyo, Assistant Superintendent of Police and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said an amount of GH¢24,000.00, made up of 100 and 200 Cedis denominations in fake currencies were retrieved from the suspects

It said the currencies were currently in Police custody and were being kept as exhibits. Explaining how the perpetuators carried out their activities, the statement said, such persons usually acquired the bigger denomination of fake cedis notes such as GH¢100.00 and GH¢200.00 denomination to engage in various business transactions in the Region.

It said the perpetuators then use the fake cedi notes to purchase items from unsuspecting traders at shopping centers such as supermarkets and other markets places which do not have currency detectors. “They move from one shop to the other and present the fake GH¢200.00 or GH¢100.00 note to purchase items whose values are negligible and take a change.

“They also take this fake currencies to unsuspecting mobile money vendors and make deposit into their mobile money wallet,” the statement added.

It advised the general public to be cautious about those who present high denominations to purchase items in small quantity, most especially of those who intend to make payments in haste with such bigger denominations.

The statement urged Mobile money vendors to ensure that examine the currency they receive before confirming the transfer.

Operators of shopping marts and supermarkets are to acquire currency detector where necessary, adding that to safeguard the security of businesses, victims of such crimes are advised to report promptly to the police to initiate investigations into any dubious transaction. The statement said the Police Command has since taken measures to investigate the sources of the fake currencies, as well as create awareness among the general public.

“The antics of the criminals are dynamic and it is when they are reported that the Police can strategize to nib the activities of this syndicate in the bud,” it added.