BEWARE counterfeit polymer currency!
In spite of the assurance of Stuart Young as Minister of National Security in December 2019, there are reports of fake polymer currency notes being tendered in Trinidad and Tobago.
Social activist Gary Aboud has provided video evidence of what he said is counterfeit polymer currency.
Aboud showed that notes could be torn at the sides and other anomalies.
That revelation is in contrast with what Young told the nation at the time of the conversion from cotton to polymer notes.
He said there were improved security features that are difficult to replicate.
The minister stated that a polymer note is “easily identifiable” and “almost impossible to counterfeit.”
But research by CounterPunchTT found that forged polymer currency have been uncovered in various parts of the world, including a major bust by the authorities in Romania in 2020.
There are specific ways to identify genuine notes.
You should look for the hologram, the see-through window, the relevant portrait, the raised print, and a number that is visible under ultraviolet light.
There are both pros and cons with respect to polymer currency.
The pluses are durability, they are more hygienic, more resistant to extreme temperatures, and are environmentally friendly.
The negatives are colour deterioration, easier to crease, and their reaction to moisture.
In recent years, new technologies have been introduced internationally to spot forgeries.
In 2019, Young said that “there is absolutely no … cause for concern.”
