Signs of the authenticity of banknotes: how to distinguish a fake banknote from a real one

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Almost everyone at least once in their life heard or faced the following situation: in a store or in the market they gave change with a counterfeit bill, missed it - it's too late. Despite the fact that modern banknotes have many security features and special marks, counterfeiters are improving the technology of making counterfeit banknotes. For this reason, counterfeit banknotes come into circulation, which are increasingly difficult to recognize without special knowledge. This article will discuss the main features of the authenticity of banknotes of the Bank of Russia and foreign currencies, methods for recognizing real banknotes, precautions and consequences for the distribution of counterfeit banknotes.

Statistics of the distribution of counterfeit banknotes in Russia

According to analytical reports of the Central Bank of Russia, about 71,000 counterfeit banknotes totaling about 250-300 million rubles are seized annually in the country. Considering that there are about 4 billion banknotes in the amount of 9.5 trillion rubles in the money circulation of the Russian economy, the chance of encountering a “fake” is rather small - about 1 in 100,000.counterfeit banknotes also looks positive: in 2016, 61,046 counterfeit banknotes were seized in the banking system of the Russian Federation, in 2017 - 45,313 banknotes, and for the first three quarters of 2018, this figure amounted to 28,300 banknotes. A similar trend is observed among the most common foreign currencies. In 2016, 4334 counterfeit dollar bills and 140 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation, in 2017 - 2343 US dollar banknotes and 194 euro banknotes, in the first three quarters of 2018 - 1859 dollar banknotes and 132 euro banknotes.

Which ruble banknotes are most often counterfeited?

The most favorite target of counterfeiters for many years are banknotes of 1000 and 5000 rubles. Thus, over the past two years, 63,132 counterfeit five thousandth banknotes have been identified, which is about 59% of the total number of counterfeit banknotes seized. Signs of authenticity of banknotes with a face value of 1000 rubles are counterfeited a little less often - 39,539 banknotes for the same period, which is about 37% of all counterfeit rubles.

The most counterfeited banknotes of foreign currencies

Among foreign currencies in the rating of popularity among scammers, the 100 US dollar note is in the lead. This is followed by euro-currency banknotes in denominations of 20, 100 and 50. The Chinese currency is also not left unattended - most often counterfeiters counterfeit yuan in denominations of 20 and 50. Much less often they imitate the British pound sterling, the Swedish krona, the Kazakh tenge and the Japanese yen.

Methods for recognizing counterfeit paper money

Assess featuresthe authenticity of banknotes of rubles of the Bank of Russia and other currencies can be done in several ways:

• Studying through the light.
• Exploring from different angles.
• Check by touch.
• Recognition with a magnifying loupe.
• Using a special currency detector: with infrared, ultraviolet, magnetic or optical sensor.

How can you tell a real banknote?

The original bill has the following properties:

• Special material. A genuine banknote is made using a special technology with the inclusion of linen and cotton. As a result, the banknote has good wear-resistant qualities, has a hard surface and emits a specific crunch when felt.
• Watermarks. They appear when looking at a banknote against a light source. These details are located on the coupon fields and are painted in light and dark tones. It is difficult for counterfeiters to achieve this effect - counterfeit banknotes are most often equipped with a plain filigree, which is easy to detect.
• Security thread. It is a ribbon embedded in the banknote structure. There are two types: solid and diving. The visible part of this element usually contains graphic details - drawings or inscriptions.
• Elements that change color at different tilt angles. Genuine banknotes are equipped with graphics that change depending on the angle of view. The use of color-shifting ink is one of the main features of a real banknote due to its complexity and high cost.technology.
• Presence of embossed inscriptions and labels for people with low vision. Such details are located in different parts of the bill and have the property of roughness to the touch.
• Elements that glow when exposed to infrared or ultraviolet radiation. These include randomly placed security fibers, luminescent images, holographic threads, infrared tags, etc. They are detected using a currency detector.
• Laser microperforation. One of the reliable security features, which is a row of even micro-holes that form a pattern or an inscription. Such an element does not have rough edges and does not cause tactile sensations.

Key differences between genuine banknotes of 200 and 2000 rubles from fake ones

Security metallized thread with exits to the surface of the front side of the bill. When studied against the light, this element looks like a dark strip with a series of repeating symbols depicted on it: for a two-hundred-ruble bill, this is the digital value of the face value, for a bill of 2000 rubles, multiple inscriptions with the abbreviation of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation are signs of authenticity. When you change the angle of view, the position of light rectangular shapes relative to each other changes, and a 3D image of the ruble symbol appears

• Watermark. It is a combined drawing of the central part of the banknote (a banknote of 200 rubles is a monument to the sunken ships, 2000 rubles is a bridge against the background of the sun) and the denomination of the banknote. The item is made usinglight and dark tones and a smooth transition between them.
• Grey field of solid colors on the left side of the front side of the bill, containing the word "Russia". When the viewing angle is changed, an image of the banknote denomination appears in this area, painted in different colors.

• KIPP effect. The image of the ruble symbol in the lower face of the banknote changes color from dark to light when changing the angle of view.
• Increased relief. The following elements of the front side of the bill can be traced to the touch: strokes along the edges of the paper, the text of the denomination at the bottom, the inscriptions “Bank of Russia Ticket” and the denomination designation at the top.

The main signs of the authenticity of banknotes in denominations of 500, 1000, 5000 rubles

Watermarks. On the right coupon field of the bill there are multi-tone watermarks visible through the light. The detail includes a monument to a historical figure depicted in the center of the face of the bill, and the denomination of the banknote in the form of numbers

• There are hidden moiré stripes on the left side of the front side of the banknote, which are visualized only when the banknote is tilted. On a banknote of 500 rubles, an image of the size of the face value appears in this area, each digit of which changes color depending on the angle of inclination. The signs of authenticity of the banknote of 1000 rubles are the stripes of yellow and blue, the five thousandth banknote - red and green.
• Next to the border of the coupon field on the front side there is a microperforatedthe inscription in the form of the denomination of the banknote.

• The banknote has a number of elements with relief properties, which are located on the front: the inscription "Bank of Russia Ticket", the emblem of the Bank of Russia, strokes on the sides of the banknote and special marks for visually impaired people.
• The banknote contains a diving metallic thread. When viewed against a light source, the thread looks like a solid dark strip with a repeating denomination image. These designations can be observed on the front side when the banknote is tilted. Depending on the angle of inclination, the 5,000 ruble banknote has a rainbow effect instead of the image of numbers, while the numbers on other banknotes shift relative to each other.

US dollar: the main security features of the banknote

Consider the most common and counterfeited US $100 note.

• The quality of the material. Dollar bills are made from a blend of linen and cotton, making them dense and slightly rough to the touch. Such bills are very strong and durable, and the paint on them is deep and embossed.
• Three-dimensional protective tape. When the banknote is tilted, the inscription on the blue woven ribbon, consisting of the number "100" and the image of the Liberty Bell, changes its position, moving from top to bottom and vice versa.

• The image of the bell in the inkwell changes its color depending on the slope of the bill from copper to green. Samethe effect is the digital designation of the denomination of the bill in the lower right corner.
• Franklin's piece of clothing depicted on the banknote feels tactile.
• The watermark on the right side of the banknote is rendered to the light from both sides and has a golden color.

Distinctive features of the euro banknote

The most popular among counterfeiters are euro banknotes in denominations of 20 and 50. The 100 euro banknote is less often counterfeited, the signs of authenticity of which are often paid attention due to its high value. Banknotes of 200 and 500 euros are imitated in small quantities, as they are most checked when paying in cash or exchanging.

Regardless of the denomination, there are a number of common signs of the authenticity of Eurocurrency banknotes:

• The material of the banknote consists exclusively of cotton fibers, which give the paper its rigid properties. To the touch it is perceived slightly rough, unlike a fake. When the banknote is waved, a characteristic ringing rustle is emitted.
• At the top of the front side of the banknote there is a line with the abbreviation of the European Central Bank in 5 languages. This detail is perceived by touch.
• Each banknote has its own unique serial number, consisting of one Latin letter and eleven digits. The peculiarity of this inscription is as follows: if we replace the letter with its serial number in the English alphabet, add to this number in turn each digit from the serial number, then the sum of the two digits of the resulting two-digit number should be equal to8.
• When examining a bill against a light source, the value of its denomination is displayed in a white field.
• All holograms depicted on the euro banknote are iridescent. Among counterfeit banknotes, there are often faded holograms without any visual effect.
• When examining a bill through the light, the fragmentary details located in the left corner of the front side are combined into a number indicating the denomination of the banknote.

How not to run into counterfeit banknotes?

Most often, counterfeit money is sold in small shops, on the market, when making purchase and sale transactions between individuals. Therefore, you need to know how to distinguish a fake bill from a real one and be always on the alert. If there are a lot of banknotes, then it is better to go to a bank or an exchange office and use the service of counting and checking banknotes. Such a procedure will require time and money, but it will save you from the irretrievable seizure of counterfeit money and a criminal investigation.

What happens if you get caught with a fake?

The production, sale and distribution of counterfeit banknotes is classified as a particularly serious crime. If it is proved that there was a deliberate intention to sell counterfeit banknotes, then in accordance with Article 186 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, such a criminal act is punishable by imprisonment from 8 to 15 years. In the case of transferring detailed testimony to the police regarding the time, circumstances of receiving counterfeit money, you can fall under the category of "bona fide dealer" and avoid criminal liability.

What to do if it fell into your handscounterfeit bill?

If you have doubts about the authenticity of banknotes, do not try to sell them elsewhere. If they are caught trying to pay with counterfeit money, then a criminal case will be opened against the detainee and a special investigation will begin. It is best to contact the bank for an expert identification of signs of the authenticity of banknotes or write a statement to the police. Banknotes will be seized for examination and a certificate of withdrawal of banknotes will be issued. If the money turns out to be genuine, then upon completion of the examination, they are returned to the rightful owner or credited to his account. Otherwise, the victim is denied the return of the detained banknotes, and the police will ask for detailed information about the circumstances of the receipt of criminal banknotes and raise the issue of initiating a criminal investigation.

In closing

There are a number of signs of the authenticity of banknotes, by which you can recognize a real banknote from a fake. Experts from the Central Bank of Russia recommend checking at least five of them. This includes distinguishing a watermark, viewing a protective tape, checking the relief elements and special marks for visually impaired people by touch, determining emblems and signs that change depending on the angle of the banknote. More accurate results when establishing security properties can be obtained using a magnifying glass - it will allow you to see and distinguish areas with microtext, which is difficult for fraudsters to fake. The detector for checking banknotes is used in banks and exchange offices to control the presence of hidden elements -luminescent images, security fibers and infrared tags.