Warning: This information may and will not be accurate for the new colored bills that the bank is issuing. Please, do not use this guide for these recently issued bills. When I get to it, a new page will be established for the new bills. This should be accurate for the older bill, however.
How to Spot Counterfeit Currency
Note: This site aims to provide information to assist the public in counterfeit detention. However, it is only a guide and if you are in any doubt with a bill, always consult an expert, like a banker. This information should not be used to engage in any counterfeit bill making. Counterfeiting is a serious crime with a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisoned for up to 15 years.
Only about 3/100ths of 1% of the total currency is counterfeit in the United States. And about 75% of all know counterfeit money is caught before it reaches the consumers. But then what is your chance of getting some of the 25% of counterfeit money that reaches you? What should you do if you are in doubt of a bill, and what should do if you find counterfeit money? This guide might be able to help you.
First, rubbing a bill on a piece of paper is not, I repeat, NOT a good test. Ink can be rubbed off of any bill, genuine or fake.
You have a role in keeping the integrity of our nations money. The public can help guard against the threat from counterfeiters by becoming more familiar with United States currency.
Look at the money you receive. Compare a note that looks suspicious with a genuine note of the same: (A) denomination and (B) series, paying attention to the quality of printing and paper characteristics. Don�t look for similarities, but look for differences from each bill.
Here are some things to look for:
Portrait:
On the portrait of the real bill, the hairline is distinct, and the eyes are clear. The face stands out from background, and it looks somewhat lifelike. The background should be a fine screen of small rectangles.
But with the counterfeit, the picture looks lifeless, it blends into the background, the eyes are dull, the hairline is not clear, and the background is dark and muddled.
Federal Reserve and Treasury Seals:
On the genuine bill, the saw-tooth points of the Federal Reserve and Treasury Seals are clear and sharp.
On the fake bills, the saw-tooth points could be uneven, blunt, or broken.
Border:
The border of a genuine bill has the same ink density throughout the border. The fine lines in the border are clear and unbroken and the scrollwork is distinct.
On counterfeits, the lines in the outer margin and scrollwork may be blurred or broken.
Serial Numbers:
With the real bill, the color of ink in the serial numbers is the same color ink as the Treasury Seal. The numbers are evenly spaced and have a distinctive style.
On a counterfeit bill, the numbers may not be uniformly spaced or aligned. The color of the ink may be different then the Treasury Seal.
Paper:
The paper used for genuine notes is of very high quality, with tiny red and blue fibers embedded throughout that look like small pieces of flint. It has a distinctive feel.
It is illegal to reproduce the distinctive paper used to make money. Counterfeit money may feel different or be whiter then genuine paper. Often counterfeiters try to simulate the red and blue fibers that are embedded into the bill. Close inspection usually reveals that the tiny red and blue lines are printed on the paper, not embedded.
If you are still not sure whether a note is a counterfeit, consult an experienced money handler, like a bank teller. If you get a counterfeit bill, here are some steps for you:
Write the date and your initials on the back of the bill so that you can identify it later.
Record on a separate sheet of paper all the details about how you got the bill: Who gave it to you? Where and when did you get it?
Handle the bill as little as possible to preserve any fingerprints on it. Put the bill in a protective cover such as an envelope.
Contact your local police or the nearest U.S. Secret Service office your local police. Only surrender the bill to these agencies.
Note: This site aims to provide information to assist the public in counterfeit detention. However, it is only a guide and if you are in any doubt with a bill, always consult an expert, like a banker. This information should not be used to engage in any counterfeit bill making. Counterfeiting is a serious crime with a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisoned for up to 15 years.
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