The increase in counterfeit banknotes has been noted over large parts of Sweden and Värmland is no exception. On Thursday, the police in Värmland went out on social media and warned that there are counterfeit banknotes in circulation in the county.

In the past month, five counterfeit 500-kronor banknotes have been discovered, the most recent on Wednesday, after being used as payment at various restaurants and shops.

- Then we felt that it was time to go out and warn. Since we do not have that much cash handling today, it can be difficult to detect a counterfeit banknote, says Linda Fransson, coordinator for crime prevention work regarding fraud in the Bergslagen police region.

Mainly five hundred bucks that are fake

The banknotes have been discovered in several places and there is no doubt that it is precisely five hundred notes that you should be extra vigilant about.

- These are the banknotes that it has been about and that is where it is important to be extra vigilant, says Linda Fransson and continues:

- Even though it is mostly staff in the trade who handle cash today, it is important to be extra vigilant as a private person as well, perhaps if you sell used goods, for example. I heard about a case in Östergötland where someone who sold his mobile got paid with several thousand in counterfeit banknotes.