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Recently, vendors have been hesitant to accept Bt1,000 banknotes and they have requested smaller notes from customers. And the Bank of Thailand has warned shopkeepers and residents to be on the look out following a spate of incidents in which fake bank notes have been found.

Although the counterfeiters' technology has advanced greatly and many forged notes are very convincing, people can determine the difference between a fake and a genuine note by the feel and the watermark. You can also easily spot a forged note by looking it through a UV light. Shoppers and traders have to be vigilant and contact the police immediately if they suspect anyone of knowingly using a faked note. However, it must be remembered that most people might pass on a fake note innocently.

Forgery increases during the New Year period when shopping transactions normally increase with the festive season. The authorities are trying to arrest forgers and the commercial banks try to ensure that no fake bank notes are issued from ATMs. Shoppers can help in this effort by spending just a few seconds to examine the authenticity of banknotes.

The central bank offers easy guidelines for checking banknotes. For instance, feel the words "Thai Government" [printed in Thai], which should be embossed on the banknote if it is authentic. Also hold the note against the light and the watermark of His Majesty the King's portrait should become clearly visible.

For vendors to refuse to accept Bt1,000 banknotes for fear of receiving a forgery would be a wrong strategy. Such panic can disrupt the economy. In spite of the recent news of forgeries, the Thai Bankers' Association has said the actual number of fake notes is not at a worrisome level. Counterfeiting has existed since banknotes were first introduced. Self-protective measures on the part of users can help in avoiding damaging knee-jerk reactions.