In 1942 the Bank of Thailand began the issuance of paper money in response to the shortage of metal during the Japanese Occupation. After the war coins once more served the nation as the currency of choice, but the 50 baht note were again reintroduced in 1985, with the 10 baht note replaced by a coin in 1988. Counterfeiting was rare, but with the advent of laser copying machines poor quality 1000 baht notes were flourishing in the hinterland as well as being use to scam farangs at bars.
The ruse was simple.
The drinker would pay for his bill with a g-note. The server would return with another bill, saying it was a fake or ‘gay’. A security guard usually completes the scenario along with a request to pay your chek bin.
Newer fakes are hitting the streets. Lower denomination bills are washed of their color and reprinted as larger bills. Always check the hologram strip. Those are impossible to change.
Check your bills, the money you save might be your own.