All that glisters is not gold. Neither, it seems, is all that crumples necessarily Clydesdale.
Lothian and Borders Police yesterday warned businesses and individuals across the capital to beware of counterfeit Clydesdale Bank £20 notes.
A batch first came to light last weekend on Lanark Road West, but it is perfectly possible that others are now circulating elsewhere in the city.
'These notes are relatively good fakes,' read a police statement, 'but when handled there is a marked difference compared to genuine notes.'
Looking at the paper quality, print quality, metallic security thread and watermark are three ways of checking if a note is hooky.
When you find you're carrying a fake note, the temptation is of course to pass it on to someone else so that they too can experience the delicious blend of irritation and disappointment such discoveries bring. However, whilst perfectly understandable, to do so would be a criminal offence even if, theoretically, it only involved defrauding one's own children.
'If anyone suspects they have been handed a fake bank note, they should seize it and hand it in to police for investigation. If you are unsure where it came from, take it to the local bank.'
Anyone with information on the subject can phone Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.