"FAKED” £l0-NOTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9073, 18 June 1915, Page 5

"FAKED” £lo-NOTE

PASSED IN AUCKLAND POST OFFICE HEFRAUUED. AssociationAUCKLAND, June 17, The sensation caused by the widespread circulation of forged £lO notes in Auckland during Easter week of last year will not have keen forgotten, and it has been revived by the negotiation of another forged £lO note at the Auckland Post Office this week. The note is » clover photographic imitation of the genuine article. It is perfect in design and colouring, and is the work of an export photographer and lithographer. The paper aione is not in accord with regulation bank stationery, but is nevertheless a voiy good imitation. . The forgery itself is a photograph reproduced in two colours, black and reddish brown, and every detail is so distinctly reproduced that there is nothing to distinguish it from a genuine note. The multitudinous viny ‘' tens'' which form the background oi; every legitimate note and are intended to baffle penmen, are faithfully • photographed. The manager’s signature looks as genuine as l.ho rest of the production, and the date line, October Ist, 1913 (which again differs in colour) has been put in with a rubber stamp in red ink. The 'Take” is complete, even to the perforation. The note found its way into the hands of a clerk at the moneyorder counter, and was negotiated by him. How well done the forgery is may bo gauged by the fact that it passed through several hands at the Post Office before it was discovered to bo of no value. An examination revealed that this Is undoubtedly one of the notes struck off -when the wholesale fraud of last year was perpetrated. On that occasion it is believed nearly £IOOO worth of spurious notes wore circulated. A number of small tradespeople throughout the city (and particularly in Karanfjah.ipe road and Symonds street) were defrauded, r.nd even a bank 'teller was caught. The fear was then entertained that a good number of these notes went through the totalisator at the Ellerulie Easter meeting. This particular note may bo just an odd one held for a year by some per? son originally defrauded, and dishonest enough to pass it on now to someone else. On the other- hand, it is possible that one of tile three men who worked the swindle last; year may still be in Auckland; and in possession of a bundle of forged notes. It would ho well, therefore for' business people to keep an observant, eye on all £lO notes. The note ea.-ihed at the Post Office this-week was a little faded, and boro the same number and date as those of last year’s swindle—number 109948, dated October Ikt, 1913, Any £lO Bank of New Zealand note of this number and date may '.therefore he safely held up. j