Volunteers at the Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad Op Shop (SPRS) in Rye have been left disappointed after a counterfeit $50 note was used in the store two weeks ago.
The fake note, which passed through the shop undetected, was later identified by Bendigo Bank.
SPRS committee member Pamela Taverniti said the note wasn’t an obvious fake and only came to light when the shop’s banking was processed.
She said the incident was the first time the store had ever encountered a fake note.
“It went past our staff in the op shop and then the lady who does our banking and then the bank picked it up. It wasn’t an obvious fake, it was very good,” she said.
According to Taverniti, the customer likely bought a low-cost item and left the shop with significant change.
She described the experience as frustrating.
“To lose that much is a lot for us. Our wonderful volunteers put all this effort in and then this happens. I think that’s just what really irked us the most,” she said.
Despite the setback, Taverniti encouraged locals to continue supporting the shop, which has been part of the Rye community for 20 years.
“There’s a huge variety of games, books, and lots of little treasures hidden among them,” she said, highlighting the store’s mix of clothing, homewares, and more for all ages.
She said the shop would be more cautious with large-denomination notes, but it would not deter their efforts in supporting the community.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 18 February 2026