A popular TikTok content creator has issued a warning to Birmingham shopkeepers about a rise in counterfeit £20 notes circulating in the city. Manny Malik, marketing director of the family-owned Malik Butchers in Wolverhampton, took to social media to highlight the problem and share practical tips to identify fake currency without the need for machines.
Malik, whose family business was established in 1970 and enjoys over 50,000 followers thanks to its engaging daily live streams, made the announcement during a TikTok video filmed at Wings 101, a fried chicken shop in Yardley, Birmingham.
Demonstrating side-by-side comparisons of genuine and counterfeit £20 notes, Manny outlined key differences for shopkeepers to watch for. He pointed out that authentic notes have the denomination “£20” clearly imprinted on the window feature, while counterfeit notes lack this detail entirely. Additionally, the yellow print on fake notes appears blurred, whereas on real notes it is crisp and well-defined.
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One of the most telling signs is found at the bottom edge of the note, where the genuine currency exhibits a shifting text that alternates between “twenty” and “pounds” as light refracts, a feature absent in counterfeit versions which simply display “20.”
Manny urged shopkeepers to save and share the video to help protect themselves from being duped by fake notes during the busy January sales period. With these clear visual checks, local businesses can better secure their transactions against counterfeiters.