The problem of fake bank notes is worsening in Bermuda, with $22,085 worth discovered last year.

But the Police warned there is no need to fall victim to the criminals who forge the fakes, as simple checks can find them out.

Statistics show the dollar value of counterfeit cash jumped more than 50 percent in 2006, compared to 2005 when $13,552 was uncovered.

In terms of the actual number of notes, the Police were alerted to 193 last year compared to 160 in 2005 and 21 in 2004. Roughly equal numbers of Bermuda and U.S. bills were involved.

Inspector Nicholas Pedro of the Police Fraud Unit, said: ?The bigger picture is that counterfeit cash undermines the economy of Bermuda and the economy is the bedrock of everything we do. If fraudulent schemes are perpetrated that undermine the economy, then everyone suffers.?

When it comes to smaller businesses, merchants are left out of pocket because there is no means to redeem counterfeit monies.

Insp. Pedro said the criminals behind such scams are very rarely convicted because most forged bills are not discovered until they hit the banks, which have high-tech machines to detect them.

?That?s how the vast majority is flagged up to us. We do have the odd occasion where store persons and businesses will call us directly, but it?s not always the case that we get it in time,? said Insp. Pedro.

Real Bermuda bank notes are made in the UK by Thomas De La Rue, the largest note printer in the world, and boast a range of security features.

However, said the Police officer, most fakes in circulation on the Island are poor home-made copies of $50 and $100 bills.

?The good news is that in Bermuda we have not seen very good quality counterfeiting. Almost without exception every single note that we have had presented to us over the last few years is produced through some type of ink-jet printer which is very poor quality. If it comes into contact with water, the ink will run out,? said Insp. Pedro.

According to a spokeswoman for Bermuda Monetary Authority ? which has the sole right to issue currency on the Island ? note designs are updated periodically to reflect the latest anti-counterfeiting features.

The Authority educates banks, retailers and the general public when new designs are introduced and has a primary school programme to teach youngsters about the history and features of Bermuda?s currency.

Urging people to be vigilant and listen to such advice, Insp. Pedro said: ?I?m firmly of the opinion that this crime is entirely preventable. If people receiving cash look for any one of the security features, they won?t become victims.?

Bermuda Police Service has full advice in the crime prevention section of its website www.bermudapolice.bm about detecting and reporting counterfeit notes. Among the tips are:

All Bermuda paper currency is printed in at least four different colours or shades. A lack of colour is a giveaway that the note may be a photocopy.

Check for the silver security thread that runs through every Bermuda note. It is located just to the left of the portrait and runs from top to bottom.

Look for the watermark of a tuna fish which is visible on either side of a Bermuda note. Holding it up to the light, it can be seen on the face of the bill to the left of the portrait.

American bank notes also have a security thread, or plastic strip, that is embedded in the paper and runs vertically up one side of the note.

US bills have colour-shifting ink that changes when they are tilted up and down, and a watermark that can be seen when they are held up to the light.