The Deutsche Bundesbank registered around 44,100 counterfeit euro banknotes with a face value of 2.7 million euros in German payment transactions in 2022. This means that the number of counterfeits increased by 5.2 percent compared to the previous year.  

Counterfeit money: Slight increase, but overall low level

The number of counterfeit money increased slightly in 2022. This is probably due to the fact that the Corona restrictions of the previous two years have largely been lifted and folk festivals and Christmas markets have taken place again, where payments are mainly made in cash. Overall, however, the volume of counterfeit money remains very low: in purely mathematical terms, there were only five counterfeit banknotes per 10,000 residents in 2022.”

Burkhard Balz, member of the Bundesbank board and responsible for cash

As in previous years, the largest share was made up of easily recognizable counterfeits with the imprint “MovieMoney” or “Prop copy”. These notes have no security features whatsoever.  

Since counterfeit money cannot be replaced, every person should check banknotes themselves using the “feel-see-tilt” principle“.

Burkhard Balz, member of the Bundesbank board and responsible for cash

It is advisable to compare a suspicious banknote with a banknote that is undoubtedly genuine and always look at several security features.

The counterfeits were distributed among the individual denominations in 2022 as follows:

GradesNumberProportion (rounded)
8072 %
10 3.9599 %
20 12.51428 %
50 18.08341%
100 5.39712 %
200 2.3965 %
500 9892 %
In total44.145
Source: Bundesbank

The number of counterfeits in the second half of 2022 was around 24,400, higher than in the first half of the year (19,800).

Detecting counterfeit banknotes

MovieMoney and Prop copy can already be recognized by the labeling.

Movie money
Examples of counterfeit banknotes. Source: Bundesbank

Recognize counterfeit money

All counterfeits can be identified by the following features: 

  • Feel:
    • Banknote paper feels firm and firm. [1] Simple counterfeits can often be identified just by touching the banknote. To be on the safe side, however, the Bundesbank recommends checking other features.
    • For example, on the front of the banknotes, highlighted parts of the printed image can be felt in relief. On the left edge in the Europa series there is the writing “BCE ECB EЦБ EZB EKP EKT EKB BĊE EBC” (as well as “ESB” from the 50 euro note) and additional hatching on the right and left edges.
  • See:
    • The watermark can be seen as a shadow image in the unprinted area of ​​each note when held up to the light. 
    • In the upper area of ​​the hologram strip there is a transparent window in the Europa series from the 20 euro note. It shows a portrait of Europa, a figure from Greek mythology.  
  • Tilt:
    • The hologram elements change when the banknote is tilted. Rainbow-colored effects appear that surround the motifs.
    • The banknotes of the Europa series also have the emerald number on the front at the bottom left: when tilted, the color changes and a light bar moves up or down.
    • The 100 and 200 euro banknotes have also been upgraded in terms of security: several euro symbols can be seen in the emerald number, which change their size and color. The satellite feature can be found in the hologram. Here two euro symbols circle the value number.

Number of counterfeit coins significantly higher

In 2022, around 73,400 counterfeit coins were discovered in German payment transactions. Last year the volume was around 41,100 counterfeit coins. This means that in Germany there were nine counterfeit coins for every 10,000 inhabitants. The enormous increase was essentially due to a series of special cases in which companies had collected falsely suspicious coins for years and submitted them to the Bundesbank in one fell swoop in 2022.

The counterfeits only occurred in the three highest denominations and were distributed as follows in 2022:

CoinsNumberProportion (rounded)
50 cents4651 %
5.1097 %
67.81092 %
In total73.384
Source: Bundesbank

At around 40,800, the number of counterfeit coins in the second half of the year was significantly higher than the number registered in the first half of 2022 (around 32,600 counterfeits).

Check coins for authenticity

The following information can make it easier to check the authenticity of coins:

  • In real coins, the image of the coin stands out clearly from the base of the coin. Counterfeit coins, on the other hand, often appear blurry and often have unevenness.  
  • The color tone usually differs from real coins.
  • The edge embossing of the real 2 euro coins is razor-sharply embossed into the edge of the coin. Counterfeits often have incomplete or irregular edge embossing.
  • Real 1 and 2 euro coins are only weakly magnetic. Although they stick to the magnet, they can then be easily removed again. Counterfeits, on the other hand, are usually either not attracted or stick very tightly to the magnet.  

Counterfeit money prevention

The Bundesbank offers free training for the banking industry, retailers and other interested parties through its branch network. The participants are also introduced to typical fakes that they can feel, see and tilt. The contact details of the branches can be found on the Bundesbank website.

Information materials (brochures and posters) can also be ordered free of charge from the Bundesbank. In addition, an interactive learning program “Recognizing counterfeit money” can be accessed via the Bundesbank’s website.

The Bundesbank urgently recommends reporting counterfeit banknotes and coins to the police immediately and handing them over there. This means that important information about people who are circulating counterfeit money is not lost.

Footnote:

  1. Exception: 5 and 10 euro notes are varnished and therefore feel smooth and firm. From the second half of 2020, varnished 20 euro banknotes will also be put into circulation in the Eurosystem. This means that both coated and unpainted 20 euro banknotes are in payment transactions.

Online training

Further information

Counterfeit money

Source:

Bundesbank
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Notes:
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