South Australia Police Warn of Counterfeit Cash Surge

A North Adelaide business owner who has been targeted by counterfeiters about a dozen times is warning others to be vigilant, as South Australia police warn the number of incidents has increased across the state.

Tony Greven has owned Bakery on O'Connell for 23 years, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

He said the business had experienced counterfeit cash issues for the better part of a decade, but had recently taken action after noticing an increase in recent years.

"It's probably around the 10 o'clock at night mark where it's been busy and they pick on the younger staff that probably wouldn't stand up and go, 'this is no good'.

"They're not people. Who would do this to a small family business, or anybody really?"

Mr Greven has now put up signs warning customers that notes would be inspected with a UV light at the cash register, with staff trained to look for security features such as hidden watermarks which can be missing from fakes.

"The paper, or the plastic that it's on, the little watermark is pretty well glued on, but it's pretty good," Mr Greven said.

"We have camera systems everywhere, so we have them on camera as soon as they walk in ... so then we pass that information on to the police."

He said the action had led to a reduction in counterfeits since Christmas, only receiving about three notes.

But he said any loss of revenue for the family business was felt acutely.

"You can never stop these mongrel thieves, but you can do everything you can to minimise it," he said.

"Be vigilant and have your signs up and have your purple lights and have a camera system to catch these people."

Counterfeits on the rise in SA

According to the latest crime statistics from SA Police, there has been a significant increase in counterfeit cash being used in financial transactions.

There were 58 counterfeit currency offences reported in April this year, compared to just seven in April 2025.

There were 39 offences in the Adelaide metropolitan area, with the remaining offences in others parts of the state including 14 offences in the Mid North and Yorke Peninsula.

The number of crimes in the classification known as obtaining benefit by deception, which includes counterfeiting, was up by 11 per cent, comparing May 2025–April 2026 with the previous 12 months.

The vast majority of offences were targeted towards retail stores, but police said one incident occurred through Facebook Marketplace, where a buyer paid in cash for a vehicle.

"The victim was unaware the $100 notes were counterfeit until they attempted to deposit them at a bank," a police spokesperson said.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is responsible for issuing and cancelling bank notes and works alongside the Australian Federal Police to detect and prevent counterfeit notes.

"There has been an increase in counterfeiting over the past year, however this is off one of Australia’s lowest counterfeiting rates," an RBA spokesperson told ABC News.

"As per statistics published in March, counterfeiting per parts million remains below historical peaks,."

The RBA said it had seen an increase in people importing counterfeits in the past year, with offences punishable with up to 14 years in prison.

"The quality of counterfeits remains low, although they can pass a cursory inspection," the spokesperson said.

Check for defects

South Australian Small and Family Business Minister Nadia Clancy said it was disappointing business owners were having to deal with counterfeiting criminals.

"Our small businesses are such an important part of our communities ... and whether or not someone is trying to be dodgy in a small business or at the local footy club or in a Facebook Marketplace transaction, we just need it to end," Ms Clancy said.

"Really, look and feel and also try to do a little tear of notes as they come in because the real money is polymer, it's difficult to tear and it does feel different to some of the counterfeit notes.

"Try to find a little bit of raising along the words and the numbers and also have a look at the transparent window, because it should be part of the note, not look like an addition to it."

Ms Clancy said businesses were within their rights to refuse suspicious notes but if they believed they had a counterfeit, they should record the information and report the incident to police.

"If they do end up having one in their possession, that they try not to touch it ... and put it in an envelope so we can keep the fingerprints as clean as possible," she said.