6 ways to distinguish counterfeit money

Counterfeit money is almost identical to real money, causing many people to be confused. How to recognize counterfeit money and how to handle counterfeit money in accordance with the law, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Minh, Deputy Director of the State Bank of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City Branch, gives very specific advice to readers.

1. Check the polymer material used to print money

Real money is printed on polymer material, which has high elasticity and durability. People can check the elasticity by holding the bill in the palm of their hand, when opened the real bill will return to its original state. You can also pull and tear the edge of the bill lightly, real money is very difficult to tear or stretch.

Counterfeit money is mainly printed on nylon so it does not have the characteristic elasticity and durability of polymer.

2. Hold the money up to a light source

The most obvious way to distinguish is to hold the money up to a light source. Accordingly, under the light source, you can see that the watermarks on counterfeit money are often not sophisticated; the letters and numbers on the security string are not clear and sharp; the positioning image does not fit tightly...

Genuine banknotes have a watermark clearly visible on both sides, expressed in many delicate and bright white lines. The denominations from 20,000 VND to 500,000 VND have a portrait of President Ho Chi Minh; the denomination of 10,000 VND has an image of the One Pillar Pagoda.

3. Check the embossed elements

Another visual check is to gently stroke the bill to check the relief and roughness of the printed portrait of President Ho Chi Minh, the national emblem, the denomination in numbers and words, and the words "Socialist Republic of Vietnam" and "State Bank of Vietnam".

For counterfeit money, when doing this action, we will feel a smooth feeling, not rough like real money or have a rough feeling due to the embossing on the paper, not due to the prominence of the print.

4. Check the color changing ink, security wire, and hidden image

People can tilt the money to check the color-changing ink and hidden embossed image on the money. The color-changing ink is only available on the three denominations of 500,000 VND, 200,000 VND and 100,000 VND. When observed, the ink will change from yellow to green or vice versa.

In addition, the Iriodin strip (security thread) is only available on the denominations of 500,000 VND, 200,000 VND, 100,000 VND, 20,000 VND and 10,000 VND, which is a yellow strip running along the back of the bill; the denomination of 100,000 VND is located on the front. This Iriodin strip will sparkle metallically, with the denomination number or pattern on the strip when the bill is tilted.

Counterfeit money may have a color-changing element but it may not change to the same color as genuine money; it may lack an Iriodin stripe or it may have a counterfeit print that does not sparkle.

5. Transparent windows

The large window of the banknote has an embossed denomination, the small window has a hidden image element which is a clear, sharp plastic background detail. When you bring the window close to your eyes, looking through the window towards a red light source (incandescent bulb, fire...) you will see a hidden image around the light source.

Meanwhile, in counterfeit money, the embossed denomination cluster on the large window is not as sophisticated as real money, and there is no hidden image in the small window.

6. Use a magnifying glass and ultraviolet light

Users can use a magnifying glass to examine the microprint created by the repeated lines of “NHNNVN” or “VN” or denomination numbers, usually printed in the denomination area.

In addition, the denomination numbers are printed in colorless fluorescent ink that can only be seen under ultraviolet light. The red vertical serial numbers glow orange and the black horizontal serial numbers glow blue.