ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) warned the public against the proliferation of fake peso bills.
A storeowner at Bankers’ Village in Jaro district got victimized on Tuesday.
A man bought from the store a pack of cigarettes worth P150. He handed to the store a P1,000 bill.
The storeowner realized too late that the P1,000 was counterfeit; the man already left.
“Na-discover sang complainant nga fake sang nabasâ ang P1,000 bill. Nag-fade,” said Police Captain Eduardo Siacon, Jaro police chief.
ICPO spokesperson Police Major Shella Mae Sangrines urged the public, especially storeowners, to be more discerning.
Genuine peso bills have security features. The fake ones do not have them. They are the following:
* Security Paper – Money is printed on high-quality textile and feels different from usual paper.
* Embossed Print – Running your fingers across the bill should help you feel out certain embossed marks or bumps.
* Tactile Marks – These marks are in place to help visually-impaired individuals differentiate the denominations, but it can also help you determine if the bill is legitimate.
* Watermark – The face of the bill should be present on the right side of the banknote as a faint shadow.
* Security Fiber – The paper used for printing money is blended with other fibers and textiles for a sturdier finish that is difficult to replicate. If you see tiny lines on your cash, those are security fibers.
* Asymmetric Serial Number – This random set of numbers is registered with the BSP and means the banknote you’re holding is real and legitimate. Take note that the numbers ascend in size from left to right.
* Tilt – Taking the bill in your hand and shifting from side to side will reveal extra features you won’t find on fake bills. Once the light hits these features from different angles, you’ll see a shift in color.
* Security thread – This series of dashes runs vertical across the bill and varies shades depending on the denomination’s color
* Concealed Numerical Value – The number should match the bill’s denomination
* Optically Variable Ink – This feature is present on the P500- and P1,000-peso bills.
* Optically Variable Device Patch – This feature is present on the P1,000- bill only and can be spotted on the left portion of the bill.
* Enhanced Value Panel – This feature is present on the P500- and P1,000-bills only. Both notes have the denomination printed in a thicker font on the upper left corner./PN
