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How to Spot Counterfeit Money
July 2009
It used to be that only banks were concerned about spotting counterfeit money, however, consumers and businesses are now feeling the pain of accepting and "being stuck with" bad money.    Even in our local area, we are encountering counterfeit money every day.
  
Regardless of how much the U. S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing redesign currency to be safer, smarter and more secure, counterfeit money remains an issue.
 
Below are several simple steps to protect yourself or your business from accepting counterfeit money.
 
Genuine Bills will:
  • have a distinctive look and feel 
  • have color-shifting ink
  • have a watermark that matches the portrait
  • have a security thread with text that matches the denomination
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Simple Steps to Spot Counterfeit Money

Step #1 - The look and feel
For most people, simply examining a bill is sufficient to spot a counterfeit.  U. S. Currency is printed on special paper which is a combination of cotton and linen.  The linen component give bills their extra stiffness.  Also imbedded in the paper are red and blue fibers.  The printing process leaves ink on top of the paper, giving the bill a distinctive texture.  Since the printing is very high quality, the lines should be sharp and clear, not broken, fuzzy and without blotches.
Step #2 - Color Shifting Ink
Currency in amounts larger than $5 use color-shifting ink to print the denomination number in the lower right hand corner.  The color will shift when viewed from head-on or from an angle.  The color for genuine bills will shift from copper-to-green or green-to-black.
Step #3 - Watermark 
Bills larger than $2 contain a watermark that can be viewed from the front or bank when the bill is held up to the light.  For denominations of $10, $20, $50, $100, the watermark image matches the portrait.   The newer $5 bills (issued in early 2008) contain a watermark of a big numeral 5.
Step #4 - Security Thread
Bills larger than $2 have a security thread running vertically through them which can be viewed when held up to the light.
The thread contains text with the bill's denomination positioned in different locations depending on the denomination of the bill.  Threads will also glow different colors under ultraviolet light.