Fake notes just got more real

Specimens from recently recovered cache of fake currency notes have everything similar to genuine notes, except for inscriptions on thin dotted line

Fake notes just got more real

Specimens from recently recovered cache of fake currency notes have everything similar to genuine notes, except for inscriptions on thin dotted line

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PEOPLE who take the presence of the thin dotted line on a currency note as the final proof of its genuineness need to think again.

Original currency notes have 'RBI' in English and 'Bharat' in Hindi scripta inscribed on the dotted line

For, a cache of 'superior quality' fake notes recovered by the city police has the line and all other things in place; the only thing missing is the inscription of the acronym 'RBI' in English and 'Bharat' in Hindi script on the line.

"There is also a slight difference in the fonts of the signatures, but the difference is not pronounced enough for the common man to spot. Only banks may be able to," said an official who had seized the currency.

Nafiz Alam, a teacher from Sakinaka, and Mohammad Haq and Asmul Sheikh from Govandi, were arrested while exchanging the notes to begin circulating them.

Haq and Sheikh hail from West Bengal and had received the money there from a gang in Bangladesh.

Senior Police Inspector Sunil Kavlekar, Crime Branch, Ghatkopar, said, "We had laid a trap after receiving a tip-off that two people were supposed to come to Ghatkopar to exchange the money.

We arrested the accused and recovered Rs 2 lakh worth of fake currency notes in 500-rupee denomination from them, and another Rs 2 lakh, from Sheikh's house."

According to the police, overseas gangs have begun giving money circulators a higher cut to ensure they can flood the market with fake currency.

Circulators earlier got 40 per cent of the money circulated, but now they get a 50-per cent cut.

Note Route
According to officials, the counterfeit notes were routed from Pakistan to Bangladesh to West Bengal, and finally to Mumbai.

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