PESHAWAR, Aug 16: The counterfeit currency mafia has adopted a new way of deceiving people as it has circulated forged notes of 500 and 1,000 denomination with bank's fake stamps on them.

A number of people have complained that they have been deceived. "I have been deprived of Rs500 as I obtained a note which bore stamps of two banks," said a government official.

He said the note bore two bank stamps. One of the stamps was of PICIC (Pakistan Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation) and the other was not readable as it was half printed, he added. Another government official deposited Rs1,000 with the State Bank. Later, a bank official contacted him to inform him that one of the notes in the pack was counterfeit.

The note, bearing the PICIC stamp, was returned to the bank as it had not been removed from the pack. Talking to APP, a PICIC official advised people to properly check currency notes before accepting them. -APP