How
can I tell if a bank note is a genuine pa'anga note?
Security
Features
What
should I do if I have a counterfeit note?
What
should I do if a customer pay for goods from my shop with a counterfeit
note?
Why
do counterfeit have no or zero value?
How
can I identify a counterfeit?
Legal
Issues Regarding Counterfeit Notes
Articles
on Counterfeit Notes in Tonga
Free
Information Pamphlet Order
Who
to contact
How
can I tell if a bank note is a genuine pa’anga note?
All
genuine pa’anga notes have several security features
(or counterfeit prevention features) that can be checked quickly and
easily by the public. If the features exist then the note is most
likely genuine. We recommend you verify two or three security features,
as listed below.
Security
features:
1. When the note is held up to the light, a watermark
of the King’s Head is visible – look at the face of the
note on the clear circled area on left hand side (refer picture below).
The watermark is hardly noticeable until it is held up to a light.
2.
A security thread is embedded inside the
note. When note is held up to a light – the thread is embedded
in the paper and runs across the full height of the note starting
near the “NG” in “Pule’anga” on the
face of note (refer picture of note).
3.
When the note is held up to a light, a larger unprinted area
of a cross on the face of the note is filled exactly by a corresponding
printed area on the back of the note (refer picture of note).
If you
cannot verify two or more security features the note may be counterfeit,
in which case retain the note if possible and note as much details
of the person who gave you the note then report to the nearest Police
station and the NRBT. If you are not sure whether it is counterfeit,
contact the Reserve Bank.
The security features appear in the same location on all denominations.
What
should I do if I have a counterfeit note?
If you
detect a counterfeit, retain the note and note any details of the
person who gave you the note.
Contact the nearest Police station and report.
Contact the NRBT and report.
What
should I do if a customer pay for goods from my shop with a counterfeit
note?
Retain
the note if possible; note any details of the person who gave you
the note and contact details if possible. If note is genuine it will
be returned.
Contact the nearest Police station and report.
Contact the NRBT and report.
Why
do counterfeit have no or zero value?
The Bank’s
legal obligation to honour bank notes extends only to notes issued
by NRBT. Counterfeits are not issued by NRBT and therefore have no
value.
How
can I identify a counterfeit?
All genuine
pa’anga notes have several security features that can be checked
quickly and easily by the public, three of the security features were
described earlier. If none of these features can be detected then
it is very likely a counterfeit.
Legal
Issues Regarding Counterfeit Notes
The NRBT has the sole right to issue currency in Tonga.
It is illegal to counterfeit pa’anga or the currency of any
other country in Tonga.
Maximum sentence for counterfeiting is currently five years imprisonment.
Counterfeits are evidence that a crime has been committed
and should be retained if possible. Please contact the
nearest Police station and the Currency Department of the Reserve
Bank and report as soon as practical.
Articles
on Counterfeit Notes in Tonga
Counterfeit
Notes found in Vava'u
Free
Counterfeit Information Pamphlet Order
This pamphlet
is prepared by the Reserve Bank to assist members of the public identify
genuine pa’anga notes and counterfeits.
Pamphlets are available free of charge from the NRBT.
Who
to contact:
For further
clarification or to report counterfeits, please contact the Currency
Department of the Reserve Bank - phone (676) 24057.
Postal
address:
National
Reserve Bank of Tonga Building
Private
Bag No. 25, Post Office,
Salote
Road, Nuku’alofa, Tonga.
email: nrbt@reservebank.to
