Rules for Detecting Counterfeit Money

Detecting Counterfeit Money

• Do not rely solely on counterfeit detection markers, or pens. The markers are not always 100 percent effective.
• Look closely for watermarks that are visible when a bill is held up to a light source. The bill should have a faint image of the existing face
• on the bill. The faint image is located to the right of the existing image. The watermark can be found on all $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills.
• Look for the bill’s security thread. When held up to the light all bills, except for $1 and $2bills, have noticeable security strips. Inscribed on the strip is “USA” followed by the appropriate denomination of the bill.
• Tilt the bill to look for color-shifting ink in the numeric denomination, on the bottom right-hand corner, of the bill. The $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills feature color-shifting ink which changes color slightly as the bill is tilted.
• Pay close attention to the ink on the bill. If the ink smudges easily, or if water is placed on the bill and the ink runs, then the bill is counterfeit.
• Under a black light, the security thread in any denomination greater than $2 will glow.
• The $5 security thread glows blue, the strip on $10 glows orange, the $20 strip glows green, the $50 strip glows yellow and the $100 strip glows red.