How To Detect Counterfeit Money
As criminals use increasingly sophisticated technology to produce counterfeit notes
, fakes become higher in quality and more difficult to spot. So what are the best ways of detecting counterfeit money?
The easiest and perhaps most effective way for individuals to spot a counterfeit note is by picking it up and having a good look and feel. Counterfeit notes feel different; often the paper feels smoother and has a different texture from a genuine note. Immediate signs to look out for include smudged or ill defined printing, and an irregular shape.
Start by holding the note up to the light. Every sterling note in circulation should have a watermark featuring a picture of the Queen; if its not there, it's a fake. Likewise if the watermark is printed on top of the note, it is also a counterfeit.
All genuine notes have a solid, very thin strip of silver running across them. Although the line initially looks solid, when held up to the light it should be apparent that the metal has been sewn through the note. Counterfeiters sometimes attempt to "hot foil" a strip of metal onto fake notes, something else to look out for.
Genuine notes have a serial number which is unique to each and every note. Should you ever receive two notes with the same serial number at least one must be a fake. Take a good look at the hologram on your note too; counterfeiters often try to use an ultra fine foil instead of the high quality hologram found on a genuine note.
There are a number of tools and devices on the market to help you spot counterfeit notes, including pens and ultra violet lights. Most counterfeit detector pens leave a coloured mark on a note if it is fake, and pens are relatively cheap to buy. Ultra violet lamps are a more expensive solution but useful for businesses who need to check a large volume of notes.
Police advise that the best way to avoid being conned with fake money is by using counterfeit detection tools in conjunction with visual checks. Counterfeit crime is still a serious issue in the UK and criminals use more sophisticated technology to produce better quality fakes. Companies producing anti-counterfeit technology therefore attempt to keep pace with counterfeiters by developing new devices and machines to detect fakes.
Several counterfeit detection tools available in the UK can now detect fake bank notes in other currencies such as the Euro, Dollar and even the Yen. The most sophisticated note scanners use magnetic systems, infrared and 4D scanning technology to help businesses identify counterfeit currency.
If you do discover a counterfeit banknote, you are legally obliged to report it to the police as passing counterfeit notes on to another person is against the law. There is no compensation available to individuals who discover fake money, making it important to be vigilant and avoid falling victim to counterfeit criminals.
by: Marcus T
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