Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman is committed to utilising all its resources to combat the crime of counterfeiting and promoting counterfeit currencies by strengthening security measures, prevention strategies, and raising community awareness.
Counterfeiting and promoting fake currency is a serious crime that undermines the national economy, erodes confidence in the financial system, and contributes directly to inflation. It also triggers related crimes, such as fraud and money laundering, further damaging the economy.
Brigadier Jamal bin Habib Al-Quraishi, Director General of Investigations and Criminal Investigations at the Royal Oman Police (ROP), emphasised that the police have dedicated significant resources to combat all crimes, including currency counterfeiting, to reduce its risks to individuals and society. He noted that, although counterfeiting remains at a manageable level and is not a widespread concern, it is essential to raise awareness of its risks and associated criminal activities.
During the first half of this year, no reports of currency counterfeiting were detected within Oman. However, fraudulent methods promoting counterfeit currencies are more common, such as fake commercial advertisements offering to exchange counterfeit foreign currencies for Omani riyals at attractive rates. These offers often entice those looking for quick wealth, only for them to later realise they have been defrauded.
Brigadier Al-Quraishi also highlighted another criminal tactic where non-counterfeit foreign currencies, which their issuing countries have decommissioned, are promoted for exchange. People fall victim to this fraud due to enticing offers but later discover that their currencies are worthless.
Regarding the detection of counterfeit currency, Brigadier Al-Quraishi explained that official state documents, such as passports, identification cards, and banknotes, contain numerous technical security features designed to protect them from forgery. The Royal Oman Police’s Criminal Laboratory plays a crucial role in detecting counterfeit currencies, whether domestic or foreign, through specialised experts using the latest technologies and devices.
The Brigadier stressed the importance of international collaboration in combating currency counterfeiting and promotion, mainly through the coordination between the ROP’s General Directorate of Investigations and Criminal Investigations and Interpol. This collaboration includes the exchange of information, expertise, and tools for law enforcement agencies to detect and investigate counterfeiting crimes. Law enforcement personnel also receive specialised training in this field.
The Omani Penal Code addresses currency counterfeiting in Article 175, which stipulates: “Anyone who counterfeits, forges, or falsifies, in any way, a legally circulating paper or metal currency within the country or abroad, or forges national public bonds, or promotes any of them knowingly, shall be punished with imprisonment for not less than five years and not more than 15 years.” The article prescribes a minimum 10-year sentence if the crime causes a decline in the national currency’s value or disrupts domestic or foreign market credit.
Brigadier Al-Quraishi praised the awareness efforts made by the ROP, in coordination with the Department of Public Relations and Security Media, through numerous lectures and awareness programmes for various segments of society. These efforts include publications on official ROP social media accounts and participation in televised and radio discussions to raise public awareness of currency counterfeiting crimes, the tactics used by perpetrators, and the importance of reporting suspicious activities.
He also commended citizens and residents for their awareness of the dangers of counterfeiting and their cooperation with authorities in reporting any suspicious activities, urging them not to be misled by false advertisements promoting the exchange of counterfeit foreign currencies at attractive rates.
