There are a few fakes around this Xmas, notes that is

How to spot a fake $50 bill





Police say counterfeiters are targeting the busy pre-Christmas shopping period with a flood of fake $50 bills - here's how to spot one.

And in the Christmas shopping rush, the high-quality forgeries have begun to show up in wider Melbourne, including Albert Park, Richmond, Prahran, Frankston and Chelsea. Senior Constable Joe Logan, of South Melbourne police station, has collected about 15 fakes in his investigation, some of which are now in the hands of the federal police.

The bills are made using a high-definition printer.

"The colour is good, the cutting is good, the printing is pretty good, but they are paper and that's the distinct difference," he said, crumpling a forgery in his hand.

"If it stays folded like that then it is paper, but the plastic notes tend to spring back into their form."

However, those who suspect a fake should not crumple it; store it in a bag so any fingerprints are preserved for police.