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 increased in 2009. A total of 54,949 counterfeits were detected and registered, 22,921 of which in the second half of 2009. In 2008 the total number of counterfeits amounted to 49,294. In the past year a total of 860,000 were recovered, according to a European Central Bank press release. This is an increase of 29% relative to the 666,000 counterfeits found a year earlier.