After a counterfeit $20 pa'anga note was discovered in Nuku'alofa on March 25, Tonga's Reserve Bank has warned people to examine bank notes carefully before accepting them.

The note was picked up by a commercial bank in Nuku'alofa, and Paula Taumoepeau, for National Reserve Bank of Tonga, said that this was only the second time that a forged $20 pa'anga note had been identified, although $10 notes had been forged before.

Although the counterfeit $20 note did not have a watermark or security thread, and was crudely printed, it could fool people who do not pay close attention.
Paula said that even though only one counterfeit $20 note was picked up
he said that it is very important for the public to be vigilant to keep counterfeit notes out of circulation and to maintain the trust-worthiness of the Tongan pa'anga.

He said shopkeepers could identify a genuine note by lifting it up to the light where in the blank circle on the note they will see a watermark image of the head of the King, and a security thread that runs from the top to the bottom. The Reserve Bank prints 4,000 fresh $20 pa'anga notes every month for release to the public.