A man will face court today charged after police seized counterfeit cash in the Sydney CBD.
Officers attached to Sydney City Police Area Command commenced an investigation following reports of counterfeit cash allegedly being used at businesses between Saturday 10 January and Sunday 11 January 2026.
Following extensive inquiries, about 12.45am today (Thursday 22 January 2026), police arrested a 44-year-old man on George Street, Sydney.
During a subsequent search of the man, police allegedly located and seized $1000 of counterfeit cash and two mobile phones on the man.
He was taken to Day Street Police Station where he was charged with three counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception and possess counterfeit money (not excepted counterfeit coin).
The man was refused bail to appear at Bail Division – Court 7 today (Thursday 22 January 2026).
Police will allege the counterfeit cash was used at several businesses, including supermarkets and convenience stores, across the Sydney CBD.
Police urge retailers to be vigilant when handling notes and to check for possible counterfeit cash:
- Feel the note – a genuine note is printed on special plastic polymer and is difficult to tear
- Check for words that mark the note as counterfeit such as 'prop' or 'specimen'
- Hold the note to the light and look for the Australian Coat of Arms. This is generally located to the left of the clear window, or denomination numeral when looking at the front of the note.
- Feel for slightly raised printing on the main design of the note
- Look for the seven-pointed star inside a circle
- Compare the background printing - look for any distortions or less clearly defined patterns.
- Check that the note has a clear window and that it has a clear printed image: $50 has the Southern Cross and the $100 has the lyrebird
- If possible, look under a UV light to locate the serial numbers.
