As the world has been progressing in numerous technological aspects, the crime, on the other hand, has also been incorporating more sophisticated means. Some of these offences, however, do not require lethal weapons at all.
In the last century, the crime-prevention agencies witnessed a myriad of organized crimes, particularly after the efflorescence of technology-driven offences worldwide. From online data thievery to fraudulent monetary schemes, professionals and multi-national gangs began committing high-tech crime by manipulating the technology to extort or steal large sums of money from the masses.
One such crime is the production and use of counterfeit money. The enormity of this crime could be best understood from one such example in India in 2016, when its incumbent prime minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, had to introduce new 500 and 1000 Indian rupee notes to curb black money.
Recently, a person, at the counter of a bakery in a small town of Ilmenau in Germany, was given a coin similar to a two-euro coin in exchange against a purchase of a bakery product.
Having no clue about it, the cashier accepted it since at the very first glance, the coin does not show any evident differences. Same size and weight with a silver ring and golden core could make anyone puzzled about its authenticity.
I came to know about this story through a friend who works in the same shop. Wondering about the circulation of the fake coin in the small town, I believed a possibility of an international student behind it as the town has a university, where thousands of international students are currently pursuing their bachelours and masters degrees. However, after a brief research on the internet, we came to know the issue of fake coins was quite old in Germany.
Time to time, some newspapers have been highlighting the scam. There were some other online blogs too on the issue that were written to create a public awareness.
It is actually the valid Thailand currency having the highest denomination among coins called 10 bath, which is still in circulation in Germany.
Crime or fraud, when caught
Since the coin is a valid currency of Thailand, possessing it is not prohibited in any existing laws of Germany unless you do not have it in bulk. However, if a person with an intention to cheat shopkeepers or the public could be served a jail term of five years, according to a local news website.
Moreover, many blogs have been published under a title of fraudsters warning.
Similarities:
2-euro coin: 10 baht coin:
Mass: 8.5g Mass: 8.5g
Diameter: 27.75 mm Diameter: 26 mm
Thickness: 2.20 mm Thickness: 2 mm
