Football fans from many countries will be attending the FIFA World Cup in
Germany. For some, this will be the first time that they come in contact
with the euro as a currency. The fact that people are not used to handling
this currency harbours risks, and not only for tourists.
Experience shows that forgers take advantage of mass events to bring
counterfeit money into circulation. Counterfeit money is preferably put
into circulation at locations where the forgers can remain anonymous,
thanks to lots of people and feverish activity, for example, at ticket
offices, crowded cash registers in department stores and around the
stadium.
It is not always possible to recognize a forgery immediately. A banknote
often goes unnoticed as it passes through different hands before you
receive it. Forgeries can be passed on anywhere! So it is advisable to
exercise some caution when you are given a banknote.
It is not always easy to recognize counterfeit money. There are some
security features on euro banknotes to prevent you being taken in by
appearances. It is only when these security features are taken together
that you can see whether you have been passed a dud or a genuine euro note.
The only time you can be one hundred per cent certain is with money paid
out by automatic teller machines. All the notes used there have been
tested by the German central bank to make sure they are genuine.
Some police tips:
1. Don’t do any money transactions in the street. Money should
never be exchanged or changed in the street but only at banks.
2. Briefly examine the banknote after receipt conscientiously. This
is the first step to safeguarding yourself.
3. Feel: On the face of all euro banknotes, there are parts of the
surface that feel different. In the area showing the windows, doors or
gates, the large figure indicating the denomination, and the abbreviations
of the European Central Bank at the upper edge of the note, there is an
appreciably rougher surface. This structure will become fainter only with
age and wear. It may also be concealed by folds or creases. Be on your
guard if you get what looks like a new note with a completely smooth
surface! 
4. Tilt: There is a metallic strip on the right-hand side on the
face of five, ten and twenty-euro notes. If you tilt this back and forth
in the light, you must alternately see the following details:
-
The € symbol
-
The ring of stars
-
The denomination of the bank note
-
The strip should be iridescent, i.e. it must show all the colours
of the rainbow.
The fifty, one hundred, two hundred and five hundred euro notes have a
special foil component. If you hold it in the light and tilt it back and
forth, you should alternately see the following details:
-
The denomination of the banknote
-
A door or window symbol, depending on the note
-
The symbols must be iridescent.
It is not enough for the symbols to have a metallic sheen!
4. Bridges and the map of Europe are shown on the back of all euro
banknotes.
The 5, 10 and 20 euro banknotes - on the face showing the bridges and the
map of Europe - have a pearly strip in the middle. If you tilt the
banknote back and forth, this strip will change colour from grey to a
golden sheen.
On the back of the 50, 100, 200 and 500 euro banknotes, the denomination
is shown in bold print on the lower right. If these banknotes are moved
back and forth the colour can be clearly seen to change from violet to
olive.
Further information is shown under:
Remember:
Please inform the police immediately if you have received counterfeit
money. This is the only way to catch an offender quickly. What is more,
with such action you will help to protect other potential victims.
