<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police are telling people to stay on the lookout for fake cash circulating in Queensland's east after three arrests and a surge in reports of counterfeit notes being found at multiple venues.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police said the counterfeit $50 notes have been found at restaurants, shops, and service stations throughout </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/mackay" rel="" target="" title="Mackay"><span>Mackay</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The dodgy notes are identified with markings such as the word "PROP" on them, missing security features or repeated serial numbers.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/mark-zuckerberg-to-testify-in-social-media-addiction-trial/c4f2e056-f4d5-42e1-b955-668aba56a378" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Mark Zuckerberg quizzed on children's Instagram use in social media trial</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police have since charged three people in relation to the distribution with multiple incidents this month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The charges range from possessing counterfeit money, circulating the cash and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/fraud" rel="" target="" title="fraudulent"><span>fraudulent</span></a><span> transactions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Detective Acting Sergeant Adam Hargrave is urging businesses to remain wary and check the quality of the currency before accepting it.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/police-issue-warning-as-counterfeit-cash-circulates-through-qlds-east/36f6a9a0-dd0b-48c9-b949-09a813bd79cc" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Check bank notes for security features including the serial number, coat of arms watermark, and a clear plastic window," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If counterfeit notes are detected, businesses should record the time and date an individual attended the store and provide any relevant </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/cctv" rel="" target="" title="CCTV footage"><span>CCTV footage</span></a><span> to assist police investigations."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The warning from police comes just months after a surge in counterfeit cash in both South Australia and NSW. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In October last year, NSW police </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/police-issue-warning-over-counterfeit-notes-handed-to-nsw-businesses/7957469c-1496-49e5-b06d-baf5ea2fe758" rel="" target="" title="seized $2600 in fake notes"><span>seized $2600 in fake notes</span></a><span> that were used at businesses across the state's Hunter Valley region.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That same month, South Australian police said they had received 124 </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/south-australia-fake-cash-police-warning/41770fd3-d6b6-4ed4-b6bf-8347c3372235" rel="" target="" title="reports of counterfeit cash"><span>reports of counterfeit cash</span></a><span> with $50 and $100 notes being used to make small purchases to gain large amounts of legitimate currency as change. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google 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