Enhanced Counterfeit Currency Circulation – No Significant Improvement in Quality - Increased quantities of counterfeit currency - no noticeable enhancement in quality
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Counterfeit cash is on the rise once more, as highlighted by the Bundesbank. Despite the majority of fake bills being easily identifiable, an age-old trick is still successful. Instructing students to procure counterfeit banknote replicas for a film project is a popular approach. Quickly, a father turns to the web for solutions, locating "MovieMoney" or "Prop copy" play money from various vendors. However, when the child attempts to use one of these bills at a train station kiosk during a class trip, the project backfires.
"Even imitation banknotes disguised as play money or film props are unlawful," cautions Bundesbank board member Burkhard Balz. For years, these bills have served as a cover for counterfeiters, capitalizing on their convincing appearance.
In Germany, nearly 17% of seized bills bear "MovieMoney" and "Prop copy" insignias--primarily 10- and 20-euro notes.
Counterfeit Cash Surges
Germany saw more counterfeit money taken out of circulation than ever before in 2023, amounting to 72,413 falsified banknotes. This represented a 28% increase over the previous year. While counterfeits are on the rise in Europe as well, they remain primitive, prompting Balz to stress, "While the number of counterfeits is increasing, their quality has not."
Europol intercepted 174 packages of counterfeit cash during a coordinated operation in 18 European countries last autumn, primarily "MovieMoney" with a total face value of 14 million euros.
Easy to Spot:
Because the number of high-denomination notes in circulation has decreased, the overall harm caused by counterfeit money in Germany declined from 5.1 million euros in 2023 to 4.5 million euros in 2022. Despite the uptick in counterfeit money, the likelihood of handling a fake banknote remains relatively low. In Germany, this probability stands at about 0.00009 per person annually, while Europe-wide it's approximately 0.000017. The Bundesbank strongly advises against attempting to pass along fake bills, as doing so constitutes a criminal offense.
Commonly Counterfeited Bills
Frequently used banknotes, such as 50- and 20-euro notes, are the most commonly counterfeited bills both in Germany (40%) and throughout Europe (43.3%). In Germany, two-thirds of all seized banknotes are 50- and 20-euro notes.
Counterfeit coins are less appealing to criminals, given their low face value. Nevertheless, the number of counterfeit coins, predominantly 2-euro pieces, increased by 22% in Germany last year, registering 141,332 fake coins in total due to several companies handing over suspicious coins to the Bundesbank in bulk in 2022.
- The German Federal Reserve, represented by board member Burkhard Balz, has emphasized the illegality of using fake banknotes disguised as play money or film props, as they serve as a cover for counterfeiters.
- In Germany, the Bundesbank has reported that nearly 17% of seized counterfeit bills bear "MovieMoney" and "Prop copy" insignias, with the majority being 10- and 20-euro notes.
- The Bundesbank strongly advises against attempting to pass along fake banknotes, as doing so constitutes a criminal offense, regardless of whether the counterfeit notes are disguised as play money or film props.
