Money is lying on the street in the Zurich lowlands
On Friday, the streets in several towns in the Zurich Unterland looked as if it had rained money. Hundreds of what appeared to be 10-franc bills were scattered about. It is still unknown who is responsible for this apparent promotional campaign.
The cantonal police are now investigating whether this is just littering or the distribution of counterfeit money. Stefan Oberlin, media spokesman for the Zurich cantonal police, confirmed a report in the Zürcher Unterländer on Saturday, according to SDA, that the police are investigating the matter. The bills were similar in color to 10-franc notes, Oberlin said: "But only at first glance."
However, you can immediately see that the front does not show a man - the architect Le Corbusier - but an unknown woman in a hat. "You can't even pay in a dimly lit bar with this bill," says Oberlin. The banknotes scattered around Wallisellen, Dietikon, Kloten and Dielsdorf are also larger than 10-franc bills. In addition, the value indication "10" is missing on the left above the top, instead the value is indicated in "10 Bons". And on the edge of the bill is not "Banque nationale Suisse", but the question: "What kind of note is this and who is this?".
There are exceptions to the ban on reproducing banknotes if the counterfeit banknotes are significantly smaller or larger than the originals and if the word "Specimen" is clearly printed on them. This imprint is missing on the Unterländer bills. The distributors must now be prepared to pay fines for littering.
However, it is still unknown who scattered the banknotes in large numbers. It is presumably an advertising campaign. However, nothing specific is noted on the bills themselves.
