Reserve Bank of Vanuatu issues public alert on counterfeit polymer vatu banknotes and sets out authentication checks

The Reserve Bank of Vanuatu published a public warning following reports of counterfeit polymer vatu banknotes in circulation, stressing that the suspected notes were not issued by the central bank and are not genuine currency. It urged the public, retailers, banks and community groups to be vigilant when accepting vatu polymer notes. To help users identify genuine notes, the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu outlined key security features for polymer denominations including VUV 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500 and 200, such as a clear window with a gold element, a dark-area image showing the central bank’s symbol when held to light, a colour-shifting feature, microprinting, raised intaglio printing, see-through alignment features, UV-responsive serial numbers and signature marks, machine-readable marks, and tactile dots for the visually impaired. Anyone who receives a suspicious note was told not to use it, to record where and how it was obtained, and to report it to the nearest police station or the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu and hand the note over for checking; the release also noted that passing counterfeit money breaches the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu law (Cap 125) and that the central bank is working with police to identify the source and prevent further spread.