In the lead up to Christmas, the independent crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers, is today appealing to the public for information on those making, buying or selling counterfeit banknotes.

Often viewed as minor offences, many do not realise the seriousness of these types of operations which are frequently linked to serious and organised crime.

In a recent case, a serial forger originally sentenced in 2009 for conspiring to manufacture £5 million in counterfeit notes and firearms offences, was sentenced to a further 3 years 9 months in prison for breaching a Serious Crime Prevention Order having been found in possession of computers, printers, scanners, and USB sticks containing banking details and template I.D documentation.

Counterfeit crimes are rarely victimless, with incidents in various parts of the UK that have seen retailers, businesses, schools, charities and the elderly conned out of money.

One incident saw a scammer in Worcester trick and take advantage of a partially sighted elderly man at a bus stop by asking the victim for change of a £20 note and handing him a fake note. While a woman in West Sussex was conned into handing over a diamond ring in exchange for £500 in fake notes after listing it for sale on classified website Gumtree.

In the first half of 2015, around 119,000 worthless counterfeit banknotes with a notional value of £2.3 million were removed from the UK’s streets, while the figure for the whole of 2014 was around £8 million.

While it is encouraging that the figure has dropped, people should remain vigilant, signs of what to look for include:

- Feeling for raised print across the words ‘Bank of England’

- Holding the note up to the light to check the watermark

- Looking for the metallic thread running through every genuine note

Director of Operations for Crimestoppers, Roger Critchell, said: “The public should not be tempted by these notes, as it is a criminal offence to knowingly hold or use them.

“The purpose of this campaign is to raise awareness of counterfeit money, especially around Christmas when money can be tight, but also to highlight how heartless and callous fraudsters can be when targeting their victims.

“I’d ask that anyone with information on those selling counterfeit notes contact Crimestoppers anonymously, safe in the knowledge no one will know you spoke to us, and knowing you may have prevented someone’s Christmas from being ruined.”

Ben Crosland, Senior Manager of the Banknote Education Team at the Bank of England, said: “The general public play an important role when it comes to reporting counterfeit currency, and campaigns like this are essential to encourage the public and businesses to help us and our partners at the National Crime Agency stop the counterfeiters.”

If you have information on those making, selling or buying counterfeit notes then please contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through our Anonymous Online Form at crimestoppers-uk.org/give-info.