COUNTERFEIT cash has been used to pay for expensive goods in Swindon.

Police have had two reports in the last month about fake notes being used to buy stuff listed on online marketplaces. The buyers paid entirely in cash with notes which all had the exact same serial number.

Sellers should be aware of this scam and follow police advice:

When engaging in a sale, always try and get as much information about the buyer as possible. Not all ‘for sale sites’ require membership details, so buyers can use private numbers and fake names without having to disclose their home or email address.

Be wary of a buyer who states they can come and collect immediately, or someone who is prepared to travel a great distance for the collection.

A fraudulent buyer will want to leave quickly and may appear eager to hand over cash or reluctant to negotiate a price.

Always check the money you receive. If it doesn’t feel right then it might be a fake.

Remember to check for detail in the watermark and for a silver strip on both sides of the note.

Check for the sharpness of the notes ink as some counterfeit currency can appear blurred

Always check serial numbers.

If suspicious of a buyer, record details of the vehicle they arrived in and make the police aware. Delay the sale and call us on 999.

If a transaction has gone ahead and you then realise the bank notes are fake, minimise the handling of the notes and call 101 so they can be recovered for examination.

If you have sold an item and been paid with £20 notes with a suspicious serial number, call police on 101 and quote crime reference number 54220014823.