Police in downtown, Kingston, said they are extremely concerned about the circulation of counterfeit notes in the commercial district.

Special Inspector Joseph Donaldson of the Darling Street police, said based on police intelligence it is suspected that a group of persons are responsible for an upsurge in the number of the fake notes discovered over the past three weeks.

"A man told us that another man was trying to recruit him to buy goods with some fake notes, had about 20 of them," the Special Inspector explained to THE STAR recently.

SIMILAR CONCERN

Checks by THE STAR also found that shoppers and vendors within the area share a concern similar to that of the police.

"Yea man dem a gwaan bad inna di Christmas ya, mi haffi a keep mi eye dem open wide wide...Wa day ya dem ketch mi wid bout four different one hundred dolla," vendor Iris Graham, 43, said.

Another vendor Lloyd Hunt said, "More time mi woulda tek all a five bills (a $500 note) and jus pocket it, mi cyaa run dem risk deh now cause a whole heap a people a get trick, when mi get dem mi look pon dem all 50 different time."

One shopper who overheard the conversation with Hunt then added, "Afta a nuh di seller dem alone a get trick, we di buyers dem get ketch more time to..Mi know quite a few people whe get ketch..Wi haffi a get extra careful cause it look like a nuff fake money deh ya."

As such, the police are urging persons to be on the lookout for notes bearing the serial numbers; F2752256, Fb904049 and LL049145.

The first serial number was found on fake $500 notes while the other two were seen on fake $1000 notes.