Counterfeit $20, $50 and $100 pa'anga notes have recently been found in Tonga, the National Reserve Bank of Tonga has warned.

However, these counterfeit banknotes are usually of poor quality and can be spotted quite easily when examined, the NRBT stated last week.

The Reserve Bank urged members of the public to be extra cautious when receiving Tongan pa’anga, because some of the poor quality counterfeits could still be in circulation.

NRBT stated any suspected counterfeit note should be immediately handed to the Police for further investigation.

"The act of counterfeiting, passing on or being in possession of counterfeit notes is a serious offence and anyone caught will be prosecuted."

“The public is advised to check all banknotes particularly the 20, 50 and 100 pa’anga note before accepting them.”

Genuine Pa'anga notes have a watermark, present on all banknote denominations.

“When you hold the banknote up to the light, you will see the watermark portrait of King Tupou VI together with a lighter area reading “NRBT”.

“Present on $20 pa’anga banknote only is a shiny thread appears at intervals on the surface of the banknote and change color green to red when the banknote is tilted. When the banknote is held up to the light, you will see that the text “NRBT” appear in the thread.

“Present on $50 and $100 pa’anga banknotes only, includes a shiny thread shows as a window on the obverse side of the banknote but as a more solid silver on the reverse side of the banknote, showing the national medal.

“When the $50 and $100 pa’anga banknotes are held up to the light, there is a much wider silver thread that shows as a solid line together with images of the national medal. There is also a clear window visible in the center of these banknotes,” the NRBT stated.