Safety Warehouse Fake Money Fury: Police Now Review Aotea Square Giveaway

Police have confirmed that they are now reviewing a stunt that was presented as a $ 100,000 money drop in central Auckland, but which turned out to be mostly fake cash.

The Reserve Bank has also issued a warning that it is illegal to publish anything that looks like a genuine banknote after counterfeit $ 5 bills rained down on people searching for what they thought was cash.

Auckland Central Area Commander’s Acting Inspector Scott Gemmell confirmed to the Herald today: “Police will review this incident and make follow-up inquiries with event organizers.”

Safety Warehouse is under siege from angry members of the public who attended Saturday’s event in Aotea Square. The company promised to give away $ 100,000 in cash, but the crowd turned ugly when many realized that $ 5 bills were being distributed, which could be used as a discount.

The counterfeit notes were designed to look like real currency, but with the photo of Sir Edmund Hillary replaced.

A spokesman for the Reserve Bank has confirmed that it is a crime to publish anything that looks like real banknotes.

“(We) are unable to comment directly on the legality of any replica or imitation currency used at a marketing event in Auckland on Saturday 5 December, due to an ongoing police review.

“However, it reminds event organizers and the marketing industry that posting anything that looks like a genuine bill or coin, or could be mistaken for something real, may be against the law.”

More than 1,000 people gathered in the plaza at noon that day after the company promoted plans to launch $ 100,000 from the sky.

A disgruntled attendee started a petition on Change.org demanding that people with coupons receive real money and planned a police report, saying that coupons that looked like $ 5 bills were strewn among the crowd in Aotea Square.

Outraged members of the public, including Levin’s John Murphy, called the event a waste of time and claimed that many of the attendees came from impoverished backgrounds who felt cheated.

Safety Warehouse boss Andrew Thorn has defended the controversial giveaway at Aotea Square, saying it has been unfairly characterized as a “fake money” event.