Local firms unite to foil fake €50 note scam

Several businesses in Mullingar joined forces last week to prevent a scam involving counterfeit €50 notes in local shops.

Two young males, believed not to be from the town, targeted several IT and phone stores, attempting to use the fake currency to purchase small items.

Their efforts were thwarted, however, after a number of local businesses, where the scam was attempted, alerted others through a group text chat set up to prevent such fraud.

It’s understood that local gardaí are now investigating the incident.

ReTech-it on Pearse Street was one of the businesses targeted, and manager Breen Costello explained how they managed to avoid the scam.

“I’m in a WhatsApp group with a couple of shops here in town, and we look out for each other basically,” he told the Examiner.

“If there’s suspicious behaviour in the shops, we let each other know. So, I got messages from a couple of shops in town saying there are guys going around with fake €50 notes, and they’re trying to buy stuff, phone covers and items in the €15 to €20 price range, to get the change back.”

Mr Costello gave his on-duty colleague a heads-up that their shop might be next, and sure enough, two young men arrived there.

“They tried to buy something, but my colleague didn’t accept it,” he said.

"He described it (the €50 note) as being a very, very poor copy; extremely pale in colour, and even to feel it, you’d know it just wasn’t right. It was very papery, but not very gritty.”

Mr Costello said that in different circumstances, they could have been fooled by the notes.

“If it was a time when we were very busy, it could have happened, but we were quiet at the time,” he said.

“We got to have a proper look at it, checked it, and all of that, but in another busy premises, they may not have had the time we had.

“They could have easily just thrown it into the till without thinking.”

He thinks all businesses in Mullingar should come together and share information about suspicious behaviour to prevent scams.

“You don’t know who’s going to come in, but at least if you’re forewarned, you’re on guard then,” he said.

“I think it’s essential nowadays for local shops to look after each other and give each other warnings. Managers of different stores should come together and start growing as a group.

“I think it’s a great idea, and it’s worked so well for us; we use it every couple of days now at this stage.”

ReTech-it has passed on CCTV footage of the attempted scam to gardaí.

While not commenting on specific cases, local crime prevention officer, Sgt Brian Stones, said he is aware of such scams taking place.

“We are asking businesses to remain vigilant in relation to counterfeit notes being handed in and there are a couple of red flags to watch out for,” he said.

“Typically, an offender will try to hand in a counterfeit €50 note when trying to buy something of a nominal cost in an attempt to receive cash back.

“We would ask businesses to check all €50 notes being handed in and report anything suspicious to gardaí.”