€2 Coin / South African Currency (RAND) Scam

friendface · 12-01-2010 04:38PM #1

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

Doyler92 · 12-01-2010 04:40PM

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.

jhegarty · 12-01-2010 04:40PM

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.

Dancor · 12-01-2010 04:40PM

Does it work in cigerette machines?

Cool Running · 12-01-2010 04:42PM

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

phasers · 12-01-2010 04:42PM

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

scudzilla · 12-01-2010 04:43PM

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:

Quazzie · 12-01-2010 04:44PM

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

Overheal · 12-01-2010 04:45PM

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

Piste · 12-01-2010 04:45PM

Does the Rand work in vending machines?

friendface · 12-01-2010 04:46PM

Doyler92 wrote: »

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

Just in case anyone has forgotton

We are in a recession ya know.

seamus · 12-01-2010 04:46PM

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 ****.

redorblack · 12-01-2010 05:08PM

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

mikom · 12-01-2010 05:08PM

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...

skelliser · 12-01-2010 05:11PM

god damn krugerrand!!!

tricky D · 12-01-2010 05:15PM

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

ya-ba-da-ba-doo · 12-01-2010 05:20PM

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

irish_goat · 12-01-2010 05:21PM

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.

andy1249 · 12-01-2010 05:23PM

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

see here

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

irish_goat · 12-01-2010 05:24PM

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.

friendface · 12-01-2010 05:44PM

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

Mr Yellow · 12-01-2010 05:49PM

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.

Aldito · 12-01-2010 05:49PM

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

friendface · 12-01-2010 05:55PM

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.

deman · 12-01-2010 05:56PM

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.

me-skywalker · 12-01-2010 06:08PM

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

Patricide · 12-01-2010 06:14PM

Also works with the canadian 2 dollar coin afaik.

Rented Mule · 12-01-2010 06:53PM

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.

The_Minister · 12-01-2010 07:04PM

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

I kinda diisapprove though.

Hank_Jones · 12-01-2010 07:11PM

Lot of dishonesty going on here.

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

CrazyRabbit · 12-01-2010 07:39PM

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

RoyalMarine · 12-01-2010 07:40PM

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.

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.

Run_to_da_hills · 12-01-2010 08:37PM

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

Overheal · 12-01-2010 08:41PM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

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

In appearance but it looks like its smaller.

Run_to_da_hills · 12-01-2010 08:52PM

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.

Mr Yellow · 12-01-2010 09:43PM

RoyalMarineComm wrote: »

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

Correct & true

So much for the cheap life

galwayrush · 12-01-2010 09:53PM

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

Animo · 12-01-2010 10:10PM

*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*

Motorbreath · 12-01-2010 10:28PM

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:

Calibos · 12-01-2010 10:30PM

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!!"

aDeener · 12-01-2010 10:34PM

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

RoyalMarine · 12-01-2010 10:36PM

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.

eg6_drift · 12-01-2010 10:45PM

me-skywalker wrote: »

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?????

12-01-2010 11:53PM

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:

13-01-2010 12:48AM

Motorbreath wrote: »

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:

ashyle · 13-01-2010 01:34AM

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.

admiralofthefleet · 13-01-2010 01:51AM

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

13-01-2010 01:53AM

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.

Overheal · 13-01-2010 01:57AM

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.

ashyle · 13-01-2010 01:58AM

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

Helix · 13-01-2010 02:15AM

Patricide wrote: »

Also works with the canadian 2 dollar coin afaik.

nah, theyre thinner

have one of each in front of me

€2 Coin / South African Currency (RAND) Scam

Comments