Police have received more reports of fake dollar notes being passed in several stores across the Island.

And investigators claim the bills are so authentic they are urging shopkeepers to be extra vigilant when receiving large notes from customers.

And they are also warning shop customers to check any change they receive from shops when carrying out transactions.

So far three $100 bills, five $50 notes and two $20s, all in Bermudian denominations, have been handed into the Police commercial crime department.

But detectives believe more notes could crop up as shopkeepers and bankers start cashing up after the weekend.

The notes began cropping up on Friday and detectives believe the forgers may have gone on a weekend spending spree with the fake cash.

Although at first glance the notes could be easily mistaken for the real thing, close inspection reveals that the imagery is not quite as sharp as on genuine notes.

And although high-quality paper is used, there is no watermark on any of the notes and they all have the same duplicated serial numbers. The fake $100 bills have the serial number C/1 042686, the $50 bills have C/1 262927 and the $20's have B/2 910100.

Police believe the money is being produced on Island, with the fraudsters using high-tech computer equipment to forge the notes.

Shopkeepers get warning about counterfeit money Community Police Officer P.c. Karen Ming said: "We can't tell how many are in circulation -- we think the person passed them over the weekend and they are just coming in now -- more are expected.

"It looks as though they've been done with a scanner and Bubblejet printer.

It's just a case of scanning, printing and cutting.

"Shopkeepers should check for the watermark or they could use one of those special pens to mark the note. If the ink stays black then it's a fake, if it changes to a fluorescent colour it's real.

"If shopkeepers do get a suspect note, they could try and alert the Police while the customer is still in the shop, if they can do that without them getting suspicious.

"Otherwise they could always ask for the customer's name or at least get a good description and any vehicle licence number.'' Anyone who may have a fake note should contact the Commercial Crime unit at Hamilton Police Station on 295-0011.

The wrong note High quality conterfeit notes appearing around the Island have one thing in common -- each denomination has the same serial number. They are: $100 bills C/1 042686 $50 bills C/1 262927 $20 bills B/2 910100 Spot the difference : A forged $50 bill (top) which was handed into Police at the weekend, compared to the genuine article.