KEY POINTS:
Shopkeepers are being fleeced by counterfeit $100 notes featuring a sheep in a tiara in place of the Queen.
Police in Rodney District, north of Auckland, say the crude forgeries were accepted by at least three businesses last November and another case emerged last month.
The latest victim is a Silverdale landscaper who even helped the offender load some rocks he bought with the note into his car.
A local man was charged with last year's offences and fined $100.
Sergeant Mark Smith, from Orewa police, said the man usually used a fake note to buy a low-value item. In one case he bought batteries for $2 from an Orewa shop and left with $98 change. The notes all bear the serial number BK99580630 but the most distinguishing feature is the sheep's head in the transparent window where the Queen is normally found.
"They still seem to be floating around, which tends to suggest there are a few out there," said Smith.
"It's obvious people are not checking notes. This is a friendly reminder they need to check the legitimacy of money."
Police said they were following strong lines of inquiry.
