Knowing basic counterfeit money detection can help you whether you're running the neighborhood bake sale or are in charge of accounts receivable at a corporation. Being able to spot counterfeit money can help you stop fraud. Although counterfeiters are becoming more crafty at making fake money, you can learn to spot fake money and stop crime with the help of anti-counterfeit technology and a good eye.
Inspecting Money With Your Naked Eyes
The most experienced counterfeiters can create bills that can fool the naked eye, but you can spot a lot on a fake bill that will help you determine its authenticity. First, look at the bill carefully. Watch for any changes in color, texture or design that make the bill different from the other bills. The US Department of Treasury does not make printing errors. Slight changes are not possible on real bills. Real bills are made exactly alike.
Look for the portrait on the front of the bill, the Federal Reserve seal, the Treasury seal, the borders and the serial numbers. If any of these features appear to be "off" or different, you may have a fake bill on your hands.
Newer $5, $10 and $20 bills come with color variations throughout the page to minimize counterfeiting. If you see a bill with the new presidential face design (where the presidents' heads are not encased in an oval), but the bill is solid green, you should report the money as counterfeit.
Anti-Counterfeit Technology
If you regularly accept cash, you may want to invest in an anti-counterfeit device. These devices can help you look for the watermark on currency, which is a newer feature on $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills. Normally, this anti-counterfeit device is a special UV light that helps illuminate the watermark so you can tell if a bill is real.
To use a device like this, you'll just need to plug it into a power outlet near your cash register. You can test it out on an existing bill by placing the bill under the light. The watermark will show up as a colored strip in the body of the bill. The strips are different colors depending on the currency, and they show up at different points along the face of the bill.
By using your eyes and anti-counterfeit technology, you can help stop fake money in its tracks. If you do find counterfeit money being used, contact the authorities immediately, and pass on any information you can about the individual who gave you the money.
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