Fake $50s and $100s are flourishing say Fraud Police ? despite numerous public warnings.

Police say the phoney $50s are a particularly high quality forgery ? although the fact they lack a shiny silver strip and ship should be a dead giveaway, even in the gloomiest of surroundings.

Criminals are getting more brazen and passing them throughout the Island at all sorts of locations while several public warnings have failed to deter them.

Fraud Unit Detective Sergeant David Geraghty said: ?Bermuda Police Service has noted a marked increase in circulation of $50 and $100 Bermuda bank notes. We ask the public to remain vigilant when receiving Bermuda currency, in particular when receiving $50 notes with the serial number DI 889821 and $100 notes with the serial number CI 438445 which are circulating in large quantity.?

But he pointed out the absence of silver strip running through the note and the silver foil ship which should appear to the right of the Queen?s head. The fakes also lack the fish watermark just below the horizontal serial number.

Around ten fake notes with those serial numbers are turning up everyday.

It?s thought the notes have been produced locally as overseas crime syndicates would be unlikely to bother with Bermuda currency. A colour copier is all that is needed to reproduce the notes, however the quality of paper although slightly heavier, has added to its authenticity.

Fraud head Robin Sherwood said: ?The quality is good for Bermuda standards but not as good as international organised crime standards.?

The notes have turned up a lot more often in the last two or three weeks, said Detective Inspector Sherwood, indicating a concerted effort to distribute them. ?Normally you would see them in dimly-lit night clubs. These are turning up in shops and banks.?

Police believe a network of people are buying the notes at discount and then using them.

Those caught knowingly passing forged notes face up to three years in jail for a first-time offence.