Lancashire Constabulary issued an urgent warning on 02 March 2026 about a sudden increase in fake banknotes being used across Lancaster, Lancashire. Officers are telling people who sell items online or work in cash-heavy jobs like driving taxis to be extra careful when accepting high-value £20 notes.
Fraud experts say that criminals are often targeting people selling goods on social media sites. These buyers frequently try to rush the person they are meeting or offer deals that seem too good to be true so that the seller does not check the money properly during the hand-over.
The Bank of England recommends using the tilt, look, and feel method to check both the newer King Charles III notes and the older plastic versions. Special pens often used by shops to check money do not work on these plastic-style notes, so people must check the security windows and the feel of the print instead.
This warning is part of a wider effort to stop shoplifting and theft called Operation Vulture. Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said this work has already helped catch more than 2,000 people for retail crimes across the county recently.
Small businesses and market traders are being told to report any suspicious cash to the police by calling 101 immediately. Residents who are meeting people to sell items are also encouraged to meet in well-lit, public areas to stay safe and avoid losing money to fraud.
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