3 arrested for making counterfeit money in Sampaloc

Three people were arrested when they raided a house in Sampaloc where counterfeit money was allegedly made.

According to the search warrant, the police, some members of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines), as well as Manila Mayor Isko Moreno entered the house, where the three suspects were apprehended.

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The counterfeit money notes of P100, P200, P500, and P1,000 was immediately found. Various fake documents such as passports and titles were also obtained.

Computers and printers used to make counterfeit money were also confiscated.

“Mayroon rin silang mga marking na kung saan kapag naloko na nila ‘yung isang establisimyento, hindi na nila binabalikan. This is composed of a syndicate talaga,” said Police Maj. Rosalino Ibay of Manila Police District.

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The suspect, Paulo Guevara, was previously arrested at the Recto for fraud.

According to the police, the suspects allegedly consumed 100 pieces of P1,000 each and sold it for P5,000.

BSP members urged the public to be critical because counterfeit money usually spreads during the holiday season.

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“Tignan niyong maigi ‘yung papel kung malabo, hawakan niyo. Ang mga peke, ordinaryong papel lang yan, pikit niyo mga mata niyo parang bond paper lang yan. Hawakan mong maigi, wala kang masasalat eh,” said Mark Fajardo of BSP Investigation Division.

Apart from the counterfeiting complaints, the suspects will also be charged with possession of illegal drugs after allegedly possessing marijuana, suspected shabu, and other drug paraphernalia.

How to spot counterfeit money

According to Moneymax, here is how you can spot counterfeit money:

  1. Pay Attention to the Color and Serial Number-  fake ones would either be lighter or brighter in color.
  2. Check the Texture- counterfeiters would not be able to replicate the real bill’s subtly rough texture so fake peso bills will come out smoother.
  3. Look for Raised Text and Images- the text and numerical value at the bottom should be raised as well as they are embossed.
  4. Try Damaging the Bill- Rub some water on the paper bill. If the color smudges and the bill starts tearing, it could be a sign that it is fake money.
  5. Check for the Watermark-  try putting the white space of the peso bill against a light source, and check for the watermark. If there is, check if it matches the image on the right side.
  6. Check Security Thread- PHP 20 and PHP 50 bills have a 2mm wide thread, while PHP 100, PHP 200, PHP 500, and PHP 1000 bills have 4mm.
  7. Mind the Hologram- On the front left of the PHP 500 and PHP 1000 bills, check if there is a circular hologram patch on the front left. Make sure it changes colors when you tilt it.
  8. Look at the Serial Number- Check the serial number–the characters in print should be ascending in size.
  9. Consider the Changes in Design- BSP has updated the design of the current Philippine bills we have in circulation, also known as New Generation Currency (NGC) Banknotes.