A woman will face court after being charged with allegedly using counterfeit cash at several businesses in the state's Riverina region.
Officers attached to Riverina Police District commenced an investigation following reports of counterfeit cash allegedly being used at businesses between Thursday 14 May and Sunday 24 May 2026.
Following extensive inquiries, about 10.30am today (Thursday 28 May 2026), police arrested a 25-year-old on Wynyard Street, Tumut.
She was taken to Tumut Police Station where she was charged with dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc by deception (four counts) and utter counterfeit money knowing it to be counterfeit (three counts).
The woman was refused bail to appear at Bail Division – Court 5 tomorrow (Friday 29 May 2026).
Police will allege the counterfeit cash was used at several businesses across the Tumut and Wagga Wagga areas.
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.
