Kilkenny businesses duped by counterfeit cash

Criminals are targeting city centre businesses by handing over counterfeit cash in their premises.

Gardaí are warning staff to be extra vigilant after a number of reported incidents in recent days, including in a restaurant and a retail premises.

At least two businesses were targeted by the scammers using dud €20 and €50 notes and gardaí are urging the business community to report any suspicious activity.

Gardaí are urging the public, and in particular business owners and their staff, to be on the lookout for counterfeit notes of all denominations and if presented to retain the note and contact gardaí.

In another scam, a rental property in Kilkenny was advertised falsely on a property website. The owner of the property saw a rental property that he owns falsely advertised as a property available to rent in another city centre location.

The property owner who has a tenant in the property at present said that the property is not available to rent and that he had not given anyone permission to post the photographs which were used online.

“I would just hate anyone to give them money,” he said.

The owner has  reported the scam to gardaí, to the property website and to the Irish Property Owners Association.