Pacific

New warning about counterfeit notes in Samoa

05:39 am on 10 May 2010

The Central Bank of Samoa has issued another public warning about counterfeit notes.

In a statement, the Central bank said that counterfeit notes collected so far by the bank and police are for the old issues of the 100 and 50 Samoa tala banknotes.

It said although the notes bear some resemblance to a genuine note, the counterfeits are easily distinguished by the absence of the watermark and windowed security thread as well as the softness and poor quality of the paper used.

The bank asked members of the public and the business community to carefully check all currency notes, especially the higher denomination notes.

The issue of counterfeit notes is an offence punishable by a prison term of up to 14 years.