Preston Police have issued a warning about fake £20 notes that are currently circulating the city.
A series of notes have been have been identified as having improper serial numbers deeming them as fake.
Police are now informing people of how to spot a fake £20 note, especially local businesses.
Read more: Man dies in hospital after collapsing in Preston Flag Market
A spokesperson for Preston Police said: “Recently we have had multiple reports of individuals using fake £20 notes in and around the city centre.
“We are encouraging businesses to be vigilant when notes are used.”
There are several ways that you can check the authenticity of a note.
By holding it up to a UV light, a bright red and green £20 will appear that is not visible under normal conditions.
When the note is tilted at an angle, a hologram of Scottish economist Adam Smith can be seen.
On the note, the text reading ‘Bank of England’ should be seen to be slightly raised.
By using a counterfeit note detector pen, scribbling on the note will result in it showing up in a brown or grey colour if it is a suspected fake.
The serial numbers that are known as fake on these notes are listed below:
If you suspect a note is fake, you can inform police by ringing up 101 or you can report it online.
Have you seen a fake £20 note in Preston? Do you run a local business? Let us know in the comments below