Fake P200 notes flood market ahead of Independence

 

The streets are getting flooded with fake P200 notes just days before Independence celebrations, raising fears that unsuspecting Batswana may lose their hard-earned money to scammers.

Police in Letlhakeng arrested a Zimbabwean man on Sunday after he tried to pay P2,800 using only P200 notes, all of which turned out to be counterfeit.

According to investigators, the man attempted to pay for services from a local woman who quickly realised that something was wrong with the texture of the notes.

When she lifted them against the light, none of the features of a genuine P200 showed up. She immediately alerted the police.

Station Commander Superintendent Amos Kekgathetse confirmed the arrest, saying two suspects are in custody. One is undocumented, while the other only had a Zimbabwean passport.

Kekgathetse warned that similar cases were reported last year and urged Batswana to be vigilant, especially with the holidays approaching. He also cautioned against falling for quick-money scams or hiring foreigners without proper work permits.

The development comes two months after the Bank of Botswana released a public warning about counterfeit P200 notes in circulation.

The Bank noted that the fake notes had been detected in the southern part of the country and carried the serial number AA0123456.

At the time, the bank appealed to the public to be vigilant when accepting cash, and to pay close attention to the security features of genuine notes.

According to the Bank, an authentic P200 note has a watermark of a rampant zebra and the number 200 on the right-hand side, visible when held up to the light.

A holographic stripe displays the coat of arms, the number 200, and a zebra head when tilted. Genuine notes also carry a raised print effect on the top left-hand corner, which can be felt by rubbing a finger across the surface.

In addition, five purple dots on the right edge assist the visually impaired, while a colour-shifting security thread inscribed with 'BOB 200' is visible on the back of the note.

The Bank urges members of the public to inspect banknotes thoroughly, especially during cash transactions, and to report any suspicious notes to the nearest police station or its offices in Gaborone and Francistown.