Bangalore: Complaints about counterfeit notes of Rs 1000 denomination and Rs 500 denomination are common. But now city traders and bus conductors are wary of Rs 50 and Rs 20 notes as well. They say counterfeit notes of these denominations have increased in the last few days. The police, though, have not received any written complaint so far.
Ramesh Babu, a vegetable vendor near Navarang told this newspaper that he has been receiving one or two counterfeit notes of Rs 20 and Rs50 denominations every day.
“It was very difficult to differentiate between the real and fake notes of Rs 500 and Rs1000 denominations. But in the case of '20 and '50 denominations it is very easy to differentiate. They are very thin and transparent,” he said.
He says this is a comparatively new phenomenon and vendors like him know about it only when banks reject the notes.
He has not filed a police complaint because he says that’s not for him to do. “Bank officers should file the complaint as they can identify the notes easily” he said.
BMTC conductors soft target: BMTC conductors are the most affected. According to one conductor who wants to be anonymous, he fears Rs 20 and Rs 50 notes as they don’t have any security features by which they can be identified.
“If we reject the note, passengers start quarrelling with us saying fake notes are in only Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denominations. We only suspect (it is fake) and it is difficult for us to say no,” he said.
The police say no complaints have been received and if anyone gets such a note they must hand it over to the police for investigation.
