VOTE: Counterfeit coins rife in North East Lincolnshire
CAN you tell which of these pound coins is fake?
Actually, it's both of them – and they are among a growing number of counterfeit coins circulating in North East Lincolnshire.
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FRAUD: The two fake £1 coins we put to the test on the public.
Today Humberside Police are urging the public to be extra vigilant after a Grimsby Telegraph survey revealed that many people could not tell the difference between a fake pound coin and a genuine one.
We took to the streets of Grimsby with the two coins pictured and asked people whether they were real or fake.
Of the 20 people we spoke to, only three recognised that both were duds.
It was only when we pulled out a genuine coin – and pointed out the differences – that they realised they had been looking at fakes.
A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: "Sadly there has been an increase in the number of fake coins and notes in circulation across the country and these items can potentially end up being passed on in a number of different ways during innocent transactions on a daily basis.
"We would urge the public to be vigilant and in particular check pound coins as these can be easy to pass on.
"Should you feel you have been given a forged coin or note this should be handed in to a bank in order to ensure the item is taken out of circulation."
If you are worried about pocketing phoney pounds, then log on to www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/fakecoins for our step-by-step guide to spotting a fake.
14 Comments
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by Cole, Grimsby
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 12:30AM
“PC 101, NEL Constabulary (troll)
Crimes that have their status changed to non-crimes are not included in figures.
Civilian staff in back offices do very little for victims of crime.
It takes only one person to change a light bulb, but it takes three or four police civilian office workers to log a crime, change status to non crime and send a written notice of no further action.
While the PC on the ground might be useful, the rest are a waste of money. The system fails from the top down.”
by PC 101, NEL Constabulary
Tuesday, August 31 2010, 9:47AM
“Cole, Grimsby
Can I assure you that contrary to your view that all police departments are preoccupied with disguising crime figures in an attempt to hold the trophy as the best performing force and receive glowing report cards. Our force is different, we take all crimes seriously by reporting them all at the expense of our crime figures.
It's true that all organisations are played off against one another in this way, but we realise the importance of delivering REAL service above that of ARTIFICIAL, hidden behind meaningless figures.”
by Dawn, Immingham
Tuesday, August 31 2010, 9:42AM
“FRAUD: The two fake £1 coins we put to the test on the public.CAN you tell which of these pound coins is fake?
Actually, it's both of them ¿ and they are among a growing number of counterfeit coins circulating in North East Lincolnshire.
How thick can one be.
Think we need new writer's.”
by Cole, Grimsby
Tuesday, August 31 2010, 6:03AM
“The mint, government and banks are all well aware of the problem (since 2008), but to remove them from circulation would cost somebody money. The cost will be to the public as usual, but only after the government has taxed the transactions of those coins a few hundred times.
I notice that the police are not asking people to report fakes to them or the probable source (keeps it out of crime figures).
The honest thing would be to hand them in to the banks and lose £1, but I think many will be donated to the Pakistan relief funds.
TH, GY
Are you joking? What does this have to do with the council?”
by Victim!!, Immingham
Monday, August 30 2010, 11:24PM
“Hello I Was a Victim Of the FAKE £ coins i was going into town on the buss, said what ticket i would like, went to pay for it then the driver wouldn't let me travel because she said that i had a fake pound coin, and i thought what..?? soo she was right and i was one of the people who was given a fake pound coin obviously in my change from a different shop.. :(”