Foreign Office issues warning on counterfeit alcohol and banknotes | Travel News | Travel

Tourists traveling to Turkey have been cautioned to “never accept” certain banknotes, as they may be part of a scam. The Foreign Office, via the official GOV.UK website, shared this important advisory, noting a rise in such incidents — and even issued an additional warning regarding the currency. Under their security section, they explain: “Banks and money exchanges may not accept 50 or 100 US dollar bills, due to a reported surge in counterfeit banknotes of these denominations in Turkey. You should not accept these banknotes where possible.”

Defacing currency is also against the law — and it could even result in jail time. They caution: “It is illegal to insult the Turkish nation or the national flag. These laws can also apply to comments or images online no matter where you were or when you posted them.

“Defacing Turkish banknotes is also illegal. Offences under these laws are punishable by a prison sentence of between 6 months and 3 years.”

This is not the only “counterfeit” issue – as those who want to consume alcohol are also being warned. The government body further warns tourists: “In Turkey, including Ankara and Istanbul, people have died or suffered serious illness after drinking illegally produced local spirits and counterfeit bottles of branded alcohol.”

In order to protect yourself they ask that if you have any concerns, you ask for advice from your tour operator or the Turkish authorities. They also urge tourists to:

• buy alcoholic beverages only from licensed liquor stores

• buy drinks only at licensed bars and hotels

• avoid home-made alcoholic drinks

• check bottle seals are intact

• check labels for poor print quality or incorrect spelling

If you are travelling to Turkey, the current advice remains: “FCDO advises against all travel to within 10km of the border with Syria due to fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism. Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).”