How to avoid falling victim to 'Singkwenty' bills

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Wednesday urged the public to carefully check their money after a YouScoop contributor took to social media to share how she was given a P20 bill disguised as P50.

Ageygey Hadjiphanis she realized too late that she got a "singkwenty" bill after shopping in the Divisoria district in Manila.

In a "24 Oras" report by Ivan Mayrina on Wednesday, the BSP urged the public to follow the "look, feel, and tilt" protocol.

Apart from the visible tampering, real notes are slightly rough. A true bill also reveals additional security features once tilted or held against a light source.

BSP currency integrity staff deputy director Grace Malic said tampering is usually done to small denomination bills since they are less likely to be checked individually.

"Kung sila ay malusutan, kahit pa paano, at 20 pesos against 50, 30 pesos din ang lugi 'di ba? Kaya dapat huwag nilang ismolin. Kasi kung ito ay hindi nila bibigyan ng pansin, eh malamang, dito sila lulusutan ng mamemeka at manloloko," Malic added.

Hadjiphanis said she was too tired to realize the 2's on the bill had been erased and replaced with 5's.

"Usually kasi, ang mga tao, tumitingin nalang sa color ng pera naman, hindi na talaga sa number unless malaking halaga talaga," Ageygey said. —Margaret Claire Layug/JST, GMA News