How to spot a fake banknote every time
Outsmart the counterfeiters and make sure you never get stuck holding a stack of funny money.
Counterfeiting has been around since the invention of currency as criminals try to create something out of nothing. The problem today is that counterfeiters are using the latest technology (often the same kind that is used by genuine money printers) and they are creating a product that is almost impossible to identify.
Differences vary between the currencies, but there are a few common things to watch out for. Look for poor print quality with blurred images or indistinct edges. Paper quality is important and counterfeit bills will often be thicker than real ones. Genuine bills will also have coloured fibres woven into the paper rather than printed on it. Run your fingers over the images or logos on the bills to check for ridges or raised lines. These are hard to replicate and generally won’t appear on counterfeit bills.
Here are some specific tips for finding fake notes in common currencies.
Australian dollar
- Hold the note up to the light and you should be able to see the Australian coat of arms in the paper and a seven-pointed star will become visible in the circle.
- Feel for raised ink used on the dark areas of printing.
US dollar
- Hold a magnet over the denomination number in the bottom corners of the note. A genuine bill will move with the force of the magnet.
- The outside border should be clear and unbroken.
- Check the serial number against the Federal Reserve Seal. The letter (from A to L) inside the seal must match the first letter of the serial number.
Japanese yen
- Notes are printed with a hologram of the Japanese cherry blossom. The hologram should change colour when the note is tilted.
- Look at the note from an angle and you should be able to see the value on the bottom left of the front side and the word NIPPON on the top right of the back.
- Under ultraviolet light, the Governor’s seal will glow orange.
Canadian dollar
- The metallic portrait of the Queen and a building underneath her should both be transparent. The maple leaf to the left of the Queen should also be transparent.
- The metallic image of the building should change colour when the note is tilted.
Euro
- Tilt the note and the large numbers of the denomination will change colour.
- Run your fingers over the note to feel for small bumps of raised print. It should feel similar to an Australian note.
Have you ever run into counterfeit money while you’ve been travelling? Or have you fallen victim to any other type of travel scam? Let us know in the comments.
Related links:
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How to keep your money safe while travelling