Micro-printing, tactile elements, security tape: Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise reminded about the security features of banknotes that can be used to distinguish counterfeit banknotes
Kyiv • UNN
According to the NBU, the number of counterfeits increased by 62% compared to last year. KFI experts spoke about the main features that can be used to distinguish genuine banknotes from counterfeits.
Counterfeit money has recently increased in Ukraine. Thus, according to the National Bank of Ukraine, in the first half of 2024, there were 3.4 counterfeits per million genuine banknotes. Compared to last year, the increase in counterfeits was 62%. What denomination banknotes are most often counterfeited by fraudsters, whether the number of counterfeit money investigations has increased, and what signs a person can use to recognize whether a banknote is counterfeit or genuine, were told by documentary experts from Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise in an exclusive commentary to UNN.
According to experts, although the problem of counterfeiting is relevant and persistent, there has been no significant increase in the number of counterfeits submitted for examination recently.
The criminals are trying to counterfeit larger denominations. There was a period when counterfeit 200 hryvnia notes of 2007 and 500 hryvnia notes of 2006 were massively tested, but now the trend has stabilized. A similar situation once occurred in the EU countries, when counterfeit 500 euro bills flooded the market there and the situation was so difficult that they were withdrawn from circulation. As for forensic examination, in the vast majority of cases we deal with banknotes that are investigated for criminal offenses. At the same time, we have close communication with all law enforcement agencies and experts of the National Bank to exchange experience and mutual support. As experts in the field of document examination, we are well positioned to promptly conduct a detailed analysis, identify specific trends or new methods of counterfeiting
KFI experts emphasize that without special equipment, it is quite difficult for users to distinguish counterfeit money from genuine money. Nevertheless, there are several main characteristics to pay attention to, namely:
- Watermarks (check if there is a watermark on the bill by holding it against the light. This mark should be clear and uniform);
- Security tape (many banknotes have a special tape embedded in the paper. It should be clearly visible from different angles);
- Micro-printing (carefully examine the small inscriptions and elements on the banknote. Counterfeit banknotes often have blurred or fuzzy micro-printing);
- Tactile elements (real banknotes have embossed elements that can be touched. These are usually letters or numbers);
- Color transitions (some elements on the banknote may change color when the viewing angle changes. This can be, for example, the denomination number).
