Banco do Portugal is warning of the importance of knowing how to identify counterfeit notes, remembering that a counterfeit note cannot be exchanged for a real one. The institution explains that anyone who accepts counterfeit money automatically loses its value, which is why it recommends paying attention when the note is received.
According to the Banco de Portugal website, despite the euro integrating security elements considered highly sophisticated, there are still cases of counterfeiting. Still, the number of counterfeit banknotes detected represents only a small fraction of the total banknotes in circulation in the eurozone.
Risk of accepting a counterfeit bill
Receiving a counterfeit bill can have direct consequences for anyone who accepts it as payment. According to the same source, this type of note has no legal value and cannot be replaced by a genuine note.
For this reason, Banco de Portugal recommends that authenticity verification be carried out as soon as the money changes hands. The same source also advises comparing the suspicious note with one known to be real, looking for visible differences between the two.
Three simple gestures to check a note
To help the public identify possible fakes, the institution recommends applying a simple method known as “Touch, Observe and Tilt”. These three gestures allow you to confirm various security elements present on euro banknotes.
The first step is to play the note and feel the texture of the paper. The website writes that the banknotes are produced on cotton paper, featuring firmness and embossed elements that can be felt by touch, such as the initials of the European Central Bank, the architectural motif and the indication of the value.
What should be seen against the light
The second stage of the process involves observing the transparency note. According to the same source, when placed against a light source, elements such as the watermark and the security thread should become visible. In the case of banknotes from the so-called Europa series, it is also possible to see a window with a portrait in denominations, such as 20, 50, 100 and 200 euros. This element presents a portrait inspired by the mythological figure Europa.
The third recommended gesture is to tilt the note to check specific visual effects. According to Banco de Portugal, the holographic portrait band shows different images, including the euro symbol, the value of the note and architectural motifs. Another element present in the most recent banknotes is the so-called emerald number. The same source states that this number presents a movement effect when the note is tilted and changes color, changing from emerald green to dark blue depending on the angle of observation.
Equipment can help with verification
In addition to manual verification, the authenticity of banknotes can also be confirmed with auxiliary equipment. Magnifying glasses, ultraviolet light machines, or infrared light devices allow you to analyze additional features.
With a magnifying glass, for example, explains the website, it is possible to observe microtexts present on both sides of the note. These texts must appear clear and well defined, which helps to distinguish a real note from a counterfeit.
What to do when faced with a suspicious note
If doubts persist about the authenticity of a note, Banco de Portugal advises not to accept it. According to the same source, anyone who accepts a counterfeit note will not receive any compensation.
If someone later realizes that they may have received counterfeit money, the recommendation is not to put it into circulation again. The explains that distributing a counterfeit note constitutes a crime and recommends handing over the suspected copy to the police authorities, a bank or the institution’s own treasury for verification.
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