MANILA, Philippines - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is investigating reports of an automated teller machine (ATM) in Cainta, Rizal that dispenses counterfeit money after two customers complained of receiving fake bills.

Call center agent Giovani Manio withdraws her salary from ATMs.

On August 10, Manio withdrew P3,700 from the ATM of the PSBank at a mall in Cainta.

When she was about to spend the money, she found out that a P1,000 bill that came from the machine was fake.

“Binayad ko siya sa Jollibee. That was the time when they said hindi umilaw sa sensor nila. Hindi naman po ako makapaniwala na fake siya kasi winidraw ko talaga siya sa ATM machine,” Manio said.

Manio immediately informed the nearest PSBank branch and the police about what happened.

“Kung doon sa ATM machine may papasok na fake, it is very, very alarming,” she said.

On the same date and place, a teller of courier service company LBC also received a fake P1,000 bill.

The teller said a woman asked her about the service charge for the money that she will send. The woman later left and then returned.

“Siguro po nag-withdraw. Maayos po yung tig-P1,000 kaya hindi po madaling ma-detect 'yung lahat,” said the female teller.

The BSP said the statements from the two women are enough basis for an investigation.

The BSP added that the money is manually loaded into ATMs and the machines do not have counterfeit cash detectors.

Furthermore, the BSP said this is not the first time it got a report about counterfeit money coming from an ATM.

“The bank should explain. Saka gagawa din siya ng measures niya para 'di ulit mangyari iyun,” said BSP’s Grace Malic.
 
PSBank has already touched base with the individual and is now thoroughly looking into the matter to fully ascertain the details and facts of the report.

The bank assures its customers that it will look into the report.

The BSP meanwhile reminds depositors to scrutinize the money they are holding and report cases of counterfeit cash.