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Police report rise in cases of counterfeit notes

DUBAI - Recovery (cash collection) personnel of public and private sector firms in Dubai have been complaining that they find it difficult to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit banknotes, especially the euro.

The first such case reported to Dubai Police involved four euro notes. Aqil Al Najjar, head of the Documents Inspection Section of the Dubai Police Criminal Investigation Department, said the forgery was a ‘highly professional’ work and it was difficult to distinguish the real from the counterfeit.

“Some agencies in Dubai have complained that their cash collection agents are unable to figure out the difference between genuine and fake notes.” He said Dubai Police had organised specialised courses, at the request of these agencies, to train staff on how to detect the counterfeit currency. “We are ready to help in this regard,” said Mr Al Najjar. The $100 notes are also posing a challenge to those dealing with cash.

He said the section had dealt with a number of cases involving fake $100 notes in 2002.

“Cash collection agents, including tellers, should have the skill and knowledge about security features on banknotes,” Mr Al Najjar said, adding that the public should refrain from using large amounts of foreign currency in the market.

The police officer said his section had dealt with 798 cases in 2002, compared to 785 in 2001. The cases involved passport and credit card forgery. But cases of counterfeit currency showed a marked rise last year with 221 cases, compared to 192 in 2001.

Cases of forged traveller's cheques rose to nine from five in 2001. Cases of trademark forgery rose to 80 from 23 in 2001. Mr Al Najjar said that some of the cases investigated by his section had come from Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman.

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