The police are urging residents and businesses to be vigilant following reports counterfeit £20 notes are in circulation in Taunton.

Officers have received reports the counterfeit notes have been used in separate transactions at two outlets and are now issuing advice on how to spot them.

The first incident was reported at a filling station on Priory Bridge Road at around 7.30pm on Thursday 29 January and at a retail outlet in East Street at around 10.35am on Thursday 5 March.

Similar incidents have occurred in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, and we’ve also received reports counterfeit notes have been used to purchase items which have been advertised for sale on social media selling sites.

PC Luke Elliot, officer in the case, said: “We are aware a small number of counterfeit notes have entered circulation, and we want to warn businesses and the public to remain vigilant and follow our advice to prevent more people becoming victims of fraud.

“A full and thorough investigation into how these notes have entered circulation is being carried out, and we are issuing advice so people can be confident they’re accepting genuine payments for goods and services they are providing.”

If cash transactions are necessary, please follow the advice in the attached PDF.

Attachments:

• counterfeit-money.pdf

Don’t turn your home into a gold mine. Burglars are targeting households for gold, jewellery, cash and even stealing whole safes.

Do what you can to make your home a harder target:

Please see the attached advice.

Attachments:

• burglary-advice.pdf

The Police has issued the warning below. Although the reference is to parking in Watchet there are fake QR codes in use elsewhere so please take care and check that the QR code is not a sticker over the original code.

We want to make people aware of criminals who have put a fake QR code over the genuine article on parking ticket machines in Watchet. These are the codes that can be scanned by smart phones to make payments, such as paying for a parking space in these occasions. Instead of payment going to the legitimate operator, these payments are going to the offender. Typically these scams may only take a small sum so it doesn’t raise any suspicions to the victim, allowing the fraud to continue.

A QR (Quick Response) Code is a two-dimensional matrix barcode which gives access to websites, digital content, or other information. At it’s best it provides swift access for payments, which comes from PayPal or similar companies, who then take payment for the user. At worse, it may also download phishing or malware viruses. Always check there isn’t a sticker over the original code. Be very careful if a smaller sticker seems to be over of a larger size or shows signs of tampering. Be especially aware if the website asks for sensitive information or offers unrealistic deals.

The police has informed us that for the time being, Trevor Wilmot will be your point of contact for police matters relating to your area.

Should you need to get in touch, Trevor can be contacted as follows:

Tel: 07547 659 714

Email: trevor.wilmot@avonandsomerset.police.uk