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€2 Coin / South African Currency (RAND) Scam

  • 12-01-2010 04:38PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 812 ✭✭✭friendface


    I've just recently become aware of south african currency showing up here in Ireland. I was given a 5 RAND coin in change somewhere but didn't notice at the time that it was not Euro currency as the 5 Rand coin looks extremely similar to the €2 coin (same size, colour etc). I presume I was given this in change at a nightclub where the differences would be easily missed due to poor lighting.

    A few of my friends have also been given the coin in change and weren't aware of it until they later tried to use it. Has anyone else had similar experiences. It could be more common than we realize. Also, the 5 Rand coin which resembles the €2 coin is actually only worth 46 cent at the current exchange rate.

    Here is a picture of the 5 RAND coin. Compare this to our €2 coin


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,664 ✭✭✭Doyler92


    friendface wrote: »
    I've just recently become aware of south african currency showing up here in Ireland. I was given a 5 RAND coin in change somewhere but didn't notice at the time that it was not Euro currency as the 5 Rand coin looks extremely similar to the €2 coin (same size, colour etc). I presume I was given this in change at a nightclub where the differences would be easily missed due to poor lighting.

    A few of my friends have also been given the coin in change and weren't aware of it until they later tried to use it. Has anyone else had similar experiences. It could be more common than we realize. Also, the 5 Rand coin which resembles the €2 coin is actually only worth 46 cent at the current exchange rate.

    Here is a picture of the 5 RAND coin. Compare this to our €2 coin

    I reckon most people here would know what the average €2 coin looks like.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,441 ✭✭✭jhegarty


    Chose your AH response :

    1)
    Racist.

    Why does it matter that coin was African ?

    2)
    Those scamming African coin's coming over here and getting free cars and houses.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,624 ✭✭✭Dancor


    Does it work in cigerette machines?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 451 ✭✭Cool Running


    Keep it for the World Cup...................................oh wait were not invited, thanks Mr.Henry


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,159 ✭✭✭✭phasers


    I've a friend who gets loads of Thai coins when she's there to use in vending machines


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,972 ✭✭✭✭scudzilla


    I bet there's gonna be some really intellectual Frenchman who goes to the World Cup in June with a sack full of 2 Euro coins hoping to rip them off :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,548 ✭✭✭✭Quazzie


    The Turkish currency is really close to Euro and is about a quarter value for €1 coin and €2 coin. Both work in slot machines here in Ireland and there is about €40 worth in circulation thanks to me :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,729 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    jhegarty wrote: »
    Chose your AH response :

    1)
    Racist.

    Why does it matter that coin was African ?

    2)
    Those scamming African coin's coming over here and getting free cars and houses.
    Uhm, I dont see whats wrong with stating the origin of these coins. If a Euro looked like a US quarter it wouldnt be racist to say American coins bla bla bla now would it.

    Im not sure where this becomes a rant about scamming africans, except to say that there is by indication a pretty serious currency swapping scam taking place around the country.

    He could have just left it at 5 Rand coin but then we'd have 20 posts about wtf is a Rand. "Its South African Currency"... "Oh, Ok."

    by the way,


    5.00 ZAR (Rand) = 0.463663 EUR


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,440 ✭✭✭✭Piste


    Does the Rand work in vending machines?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 812 ✭✭✭friendface


    Doyler92 wrote: »
    I reckon most people here would know what the average €2 coin looks like.

    Just in case anyone has forgotton :p We are in a recession ya know. :D


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,190 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    The 10 bhat Thai coin is also used for this purpose.

    It's generally Irish people who are doing this BTW - they go abroad to SA and Thailand and arrive back here with a large bag of these coins for ripping off vending machines. A 10 bhat coin is worth about 20c so if you have 500 of these, that'll cost you €100, but it's worth €1000 if you're happy to be a common criminal scumbag piece of ****.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 82 ✭✭redorblack


    The coins are all different weights so no they wouldn't work in any machines


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16,391 ✭✭✭✭mikom


    phasers wrote: »
    I've a friend who gets loads of Thai coins when she's there to use in vending machines

    They last long time...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,985 ✭✭✭skelliser


    god damn krugerrand!!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,700 ✭✭✭tricky D


    Just like the old 5 pence coins which worked in vending machines as 1 deutschmark (40 pence) back in the day.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 884 ✭✭✭ya-ba-da-ba-doo


    I remember a load of these types of coins floating around when I was in school. Nothing like getting a free dinner.


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 5,886 Mod ✭✭✭✭irish_goat


    Just fob it off to some unsuspecting cashier. I got a New Zealand coin that looks near identical to a pound sterling so just hid it behind 3 other pound coins when handing it over in a club. Worked a treat.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,439 ✭✭✭andy1249


    Egyptian pounds , 1 pound = approx 18c also are very very similar to Euros ,

    see here

    http://www.joelscoins.com/images/egypt05setb.jpg


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 5,886 Mod ✭✭✭✭irish_goat


    andy1249 wrote: »
    Egyptian pounds , 1 pound = approx 18c also are very very similar to Euros ,

    see here

    http://www.joelscoins.com/images/egypt05setb.jpg

    I bet you could get a few and convince people Egypt had joined the EU.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 812 ✭✭✭friendface


    Wow, I think this thread is serving more to give people ideas rather than to highlight the problem :)


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 192 ✭✭Mr Yellow


    The thai baht is quite an old trick. Had a friend who used to work in vending related job & he informed me most vending machines are up to date now so they no longer work with dodgy coins....unfortunately!! ha. :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 452 ✭✭Aldito


    I brought loads of these back from Turkey, they work a treat, especially if they're inbetween other 2 euro coins.

    I think they're worth around 50 cent, so nice tidy profit there.


    http://static.flickr.com/38/84762418_1155ebac42.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 812 ✭✭✭friendface


    Someone mentioned the 10 Baht coin. I just found this on wikipedia on an article about vending machines;
    There is, also, the issue of using a coin of a foreign currency which has the same size and shape as the coin accepted by the machine to get cheaper merchandise and some times change that might have more value than the originally inserted foreign coin. One remarkable example was the use of Libyan coins of 100 Dirhams and 50 Dirhams denominations in Maltese vending machines in the late 1990s. The 100 Dirham coin was used in place of the 1 Maltese Lira coin which had, back then, a de facto black market value of approximately 10 Libyan Dinars and thus having a staggering value 100 times higher than that of the fraudulent coin. Similarly, the 50 Dirhams coin was used in place of the 25 Maltese Cent which meant 50 folds increase of value according to the black market price.
    However, the machines were quickly replaced with new ones that could detect the difference between the Libyan and the Maltese coins, especially in touristic areas. Most notably, the 2 euro coin is similar in size to the 10 baht coin (worth only €0.25). Thus, many vending machines in the eurozone will not accept €2 coins, such is the extent of the 10-baht scam.[6]

    I didn't realise it was such a problem.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,672 ✭✭✭deman


    jhegarty wrote: »
    Chose your AH response :

    1)
    Racist.

    Why does it matter that coin was African ?

    2)
    Those scamming African coin's coming over here and getting free cars and houses.

    Did you even read the post??? :mad:

    Thank you OP for posting this warning. I didn't realise that the two coins resembled each other so much. PPL!! Be on the lookout!

    BTW, does anyone remember when the Irish 50p coin was exactly the same as the Sterling 50p coin and only worth about 30p? Used to be great during the summer going into the NI and playing the slots. Of course, I always spent it all.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,339 ✭✭✭me-skywalker


    well most vending machines in clubs now you have to get a token form the bar!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,658 ✭✭✭Patricide


    Also works with the canadian 2 dollar coin afaik.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,154 ✭✭✭Rented Mule


    We used to use to old 5p coins (back in the late 70s/eraly 80s) in video games in the States. They were the same size/specs as the American Quarter (25c).

    We would get 14 plays for $1 dollar (after the cost of exchange) instead of four.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,255 ✭✭✭✭The_Minister


    I have an acquintance who did this recently, and came out about €400 on top.

    I kinda diisapprove though.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,783 ✭✭✭Hank_Jones


    Lot of dishonesty going on here.

    And I for one want to point out that I support it totally. ;)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,659 ✭✭✭CrazyRabbit


    Does boards.ie allow us to pay for Account subscriptions using coins?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,824 ✭✭✭RoyalMarine


    phasers wrote: »
    I've a friend who gets loads of Thai coins when she's there to use in vending machines
    seamus wrote: »
    The 10 bhat Thai coin is also used for this purpose.

    It's generally Irish people who are doing this BTW - they go abroad to SA and Thailand and arrive back here with a large bag of these coins for ripping off vending machines. A 10 bhat coin is worth about 20c so if you have 500 of these, that'll cost you €100, but it's worth €1000 if you're happy to be a common criminal scumbag piece of ****.
    Mr Yellow wrote: »
    The thai baht is quite an old trick. Had a friend who used to work in vending related job & he informed me most vending machines are up to date now so they no longer work with dodgy coins....unfortunately!! ha. :D

    didnt they change the machines so they weigh'd the coin before accepting it?

    [quote=[Deleted User];63962158]The thai bahts dont work in machines really, well they work in the lockers in amsterdam airport, thats the last place I remember them working. You might get away with a handful of change in a night club. I got a 5 rand coin back in change some time ago. Win some lose some ; )[/QUOTE]

    the best thing i found a use for them is foreign exchange. ive never seen someone check the coins or even the notes for that matter.
    Post edited by Boards.ie: Mike on


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    The Hungarian 100 Forint coin is very close to the Euro.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,729 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    The Hungarian 100 Forint coin is very close to the Euro.
    In appearance but it looks like its smaller.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    Overheal wrote: »
    In appearance but it looks like its smaller.
    Also a shade thicker but not noticeable when intoxicated in a crowded pub, I have seen a few of these in circulation here.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 192 ✭✭Mr Yellow


    didnt they change the machines so they weigh'd the coin before accepting it?.

    Correct & true :D

    So much for the cheap life


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,815 ✭✭✭✭galwayrush


    As long as they work in the Toll Boots......:D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 326 ✭✭Animo


    *Watches as everyone runs to the bank to exchange their euros for 5 rand coins, 10 bhat Thai coins and every other coin that looks like the €2 coin*


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 78 ✭✭Motorbreath


    Got stuck with one of these coins a couple of weeks back.

    Naturally the shop attendants never notice it when they're giving you change but when you try and pay for something with it, then they notice :rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,840 ✭✭✭Calibos


    It still amazes me that people are still unaware of this. Within weeks of the introduction of physical Euro money the Turkish Lira (€1) and 10Baht(€2) scams started. That was back in '03 wasn't it? I've been telling people "Sorry Sir, thats not a euro/2euro coin" for nigh on 6 years now.

    So anytime I see, "Has anyone noticed the coin scams" threads, I ask myself, "where have you been the last 6 years!!" :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,487 ✭✭✭aDeener


    Why did you go and highlight this? The thai coin trick is a fantastic money saver


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,824 ✭✭✭RoyalMarine


    Animo wrote: »
    *Watches as everyone runs to the bank to exchange their euros for 5 rand coins, 10 bhat Thai coins and every other coin that looks like the €2 coin*

    i dont think bank's give out foreign coins. only notes.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5 eg6_drift


    well most vending machines in clubs now you have to get a token form the bar!!

    yes, but you still have to put the coins in?????




  • Great to see people boasting about stealing goods by paying a fraction of their price, and causing hassle for innocent people when they get fake coins back as change from vending machines. Aren't you all clever, hope you're proud of yourselves. :rolleyes:


  • Posts: 31,118 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Got stuck with one of these coins a couple of weeks back.

    Naturally the shop attendants never notice it when they're giving you change but when you try and pay for something with it, then they notice :rolleyes:

    I had a similar experience recently, the shopworker held up the notes I was paying with up to check them in a very obviouse way :mad: so when I got the change I held up each and every coin in the same manner! :pac:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 699 ✭✭✭ashyle


    So you're out €2?? Oh noes etc. Hardly a scam.
    I used a 2 Lat coin from Latvia for the bus... my loss though because it's actually worth €3 odd.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 15,515 ✭✭✭✭admiralofthefleet


    an israeli coin looks a lot like a €2 as well


  • Posts: 31,118 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    ashyle wrote: »
    So you're out €2?? Oh noes etc. Hardly a scam.
    I used a 2 Lat coin from Latvia for the bus... my loss though because it's actually worth €3 odd.
    In Latvia, yes , here sweet FA, you still did OK.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,729 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    ashyle wrote: »
    So you're out €2?? Oh noes etc. Hardly a scam.
    *facepalm*










    Alright Ma'am, please assume this is a Wide Scale Scam. For example, if 5 million Rand were used in this scam,

    Normally, 5 Rand = 0.463640442, and 5 million Rand normally = 463,640.442 Euro
    But now, 5 Rand = 2 Euro, and 5 Million Rand = 2,000,000 Euro

    This has generated for Scammers a Net Profit of 1,536,359.56 Euro for Every million coins swapped.

    Its Not a small chunk of change.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 699 ✭✭✭ashyle


    Yeah used it here! I did do ok you're right!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    Patricide wrote: »
    Also works with the canadian 2 dollar coin afaik.

    nah, theyre thinner

    have one of each in front of me


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