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Fake notes found in Haikou

By Li Aoxue (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-02-10 07:47

A number of counterfeit 100-yuan banknotes, with serial numbers beginning with "TJ38", have been found in Haikou, Hainan province, Hainan Special Zone News reported yesterday.

Though fake 100-yuan notes starting with "HD90", "HB" and "FA" have been circulating since late last year, this is the first time "TJ38" numbered counterfeit notes have been discovered on the mainland.

According to the Haikou police, "more than 30 fake notes" were recovered from eight retailing shops situated on a commercial street in Haikou over the past six days.

A tobacco shop owner received fake notes worth 1,000 yuan from three people, police said.

Police said the case is still under investigation, and warned the public to be on the lookout for the counterfeit banknotes.

The Macao police also found "TJ38" numbered fake notes last Wednesday, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.

Four 100-yuan banknotes prefixed with "TJ38" were discovered when a 36-year-old suspect, surnamed Cheung, used them to buy gambling chips at a local casino.

A Hong Kong ID card was recovered from Cheung.

The suspect was apprehended on the spot and another six fake 100-yuan notes were found in his possession, CCTV said.

The suspect had been in Macao thrice over the past month, police said.

The origin of the fake notes, as well as the purpose of the suspect's visit to Macao, remains unknown, they said.

However, a notebook found on him suggested he was a money launderer, working for an underground counterfeit money syndicate.