Matagal nang may pwesto sa palengke ang pamilya ni Cheche. Lagi silang maingat when it comes to transactions in the stall, lalo na kung maraming namimili. But for now, mukhang kailangan nilang magdoble ng pag-iingat.

Muli na namang nagpaalala ang Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) sa publiko na mag-ingat sa nagkalat na pekeng pera, lalo na sa mga palengke.

Just recently, Ruben Ubang, who was using a fake 1,000 peso bill to pay for dry goods at a market stall, was caught by the authorities.

Two witnesses attested to his use of fake money. Bibili lang siya ng kaunting goods at ipambabayad ang fake 1,000 peso bill. Ubang was caught with six pieces of fake 1,000 peso bills, but he denies involvement with the intentional use of fake money.

According to the BSP, hindi na bago ang ganitong modus.

Deputy Director for the BSP Currency Issue and Integrity Office Grace Malic explains kung ano ang nakukuha ng fraudsters sa pamamagitan ng pekeng pera: “Mayroon na silang nakuhang goods, mayroon pa silang nakuhang genuine na currency.”

The BSP reminds us na maging mapanuri para hindi mabiktima ng fake money.

Here are some of BSP’s tips:

1. Check kung malinaw ang kulay at print nito.
2. When scratched by a fingernail, dapat magaspang ang buhok ng mga larawang tao sa papel.
3. The watermark at the side should be clear kapag tinapat sa ilaw.