Genuine or counterfeit?

Security features of euro banknotes

All banknotes have security features that make genuine notes easily distinguishable from counterfeits. You don’t need sophisticated equipment. Just look, tilt and feel a note and you will recognise the genuine article. Always be sure to check more than one security feature. Still not convinced? Then compare the suspicious note to a genuine one.

A suspicious banknote

To find yourself holding a counterfeit banknote is always unpleasant: for one thing, you will not be compensated. For another, if you spend a counterfeit note, you will be committing a criminal offence.

On the receiving end

It is always unpleasant to find yourself in possession of a counterfeit banknote, not only for private people but also if you’re in business. For one thing, you will not be compensated. For another, if you spend a counterfeit note, you will be committing a criminal offence. However, you may be insured against counterfeit damage.

Authentication devices

Euro banknotes carry security features by which they can be easily distinguished from counterfeits. You can check a note by simply looking, tilting and feeling. Retailers and others who handle cash a lot, may use a authentication device for additional support. However, such devices can never entirely replace the user’s own considered opinion based on a banknote’s security features.

Figures on counterfeits

The number of counterfeit euro banknotes in the Netherlands declined in the first half of 2010. Exactly 19,585 counterfeit banknotes were intercepted and registered, compared to 22,921 in the second half of 2009. According to the European Central Bank, a total of 387,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were detected in the past half year. This is a decrease of around 13% on the quantity recovered in the second half of 2009.