Traders share tales of deception with bogus bills

JOHOR BAHRU - Local traders have exposed a common scam tactic used by fraudsters involving counterfeit money: the bills are often crumpled, folded, and the change is demanded swiftly.

Raendang Awang, 54, a beverage stall owner at Anjung Selera Jotic, has encountered this deceit thrice during her 12-year tenure.

She notes that counterfeit RM20, RM50, and RM100 notes are most frequently passed on.

"During busy hours, it's tough to scrutinise each note.

"Based on my experience, the culprits are usually not locals. They tend to hastily ask for the change," she said.

Raendang typically realises the fraudulence of the notes at the bank's cash deposit machines.

The tell-tale signs of forgery, she observed, include a paler hue, absence of holographic squares, security threads, and a lighter weight.

Suhaimi Mohamed, 53, a butcher at Pasar Borong, Pandan, Johor Bahru, echoed similar sentiments, noting a spike in such incidents during festive seasons.

"Fraudsters exploit the festive rush to pass fake bills.

"I've been conned multiple times, especially when I'm away and my foreign workers from Indonesia and Bangladesh man the stall," he said.

In response, Suhaimi has put up notices cautioning against the use of counterfeit money.

Rocky Low, 30, a plastic goods and home equipment dealer, recounted a near miss with a customer who tried to pay for kitchen equipment with counterfeit money in the run-up to Aidilfitri.

"The store was packed. I didn't initially notice the bogus RM100 note.

"It felt slippery, thin, and oddly textured when I was giving change," Rocky recalled.

He didn't confront the woman but warned her against repeating the act.

This was a first for Rocky in over five years of business.

To counter this issue, his store has switched to QR code transactions, putting an end to the trickery.