Optical Counterfeit Detection

OPTICAL COUNTERFEIT DETECTION

Shown below is the units indicator strip complete with bill denomination and verification of the bill.

Only $149.95 Per Unit (discounts available for quantity purchase)
Catch 10 bad $20's and you have paid for this essential business tool.

Counterfeit Fact Sheet

Counterfeiting is an offense never committed by accident, nor by ignorance, nor in the heat of passion, nor in the extreme of poverty. It is a crime expertly designed by one who possesses technical skill and lays out substantial sums for equipment.

Although counterfeiting has been substantially curtailed since the establishment of the Secret Service, this crime continues to represent a potential danger to the Nation’s economy and a source of financial loss to its citizens. Modern photographic and printing devices have made the production of counterfeit money relatively easy. In addition, advances in reprographic technology, such as high quality copying machines desktop publishing and scanners, have given rise to the so-called "casual counterfeiter" who has access to such equipment.

The most counterfeited currency in the world is that of the United States of America, but Canadian money is also counterfeited and passed (given as payment) in large numbers.

Anyone with access to a color photocopier or computer printer can create and pass counterfeit bills.

In the past only large bills like the $100 dollar bill were being counterfeited. However, today a good number of businesses are reporting that they are receiving $5, $10, and $20 counterfeit bills.

One of the most common types of counterfeit detection is provided by Ultraviolet lights, the operating principle is pretty simple if the bill being checked is dull then it should be ok. The idea is that because the paper used in the printing of real currency has a high starch content it is dull under Ultra Violet Light, and because counterfeiters generally used bond paper that has virtually no starch in it because it is bleached. The bleached bond paper glows under Ultra Violet Light, this light technology has been in use for some time, since approximately 1976, and was effective.

Security thread: The words "USA TWENTY" and a flag can be seen on the thread when viewed against a light. The thread glows green in a $20, yellow in a $50, and Red in a $100 under ultra violet light.

Color-shifting ink: the numeral 20 in the bottom right corner looks green when viewed straight on, but black at an angle.

Watermark: A duplicate image of Jackson is visible when held up to a light but couldn’t be photocopied.

The watermark to the right of the portrait depicting the same historical figure as the portrait. The watermark can be seen only when held up to a light.

A security thread to the far left of the portrait that glows green when exposed to ultraviolet light in a dark environment. "USA TWENTY" and a flag are printed on the thread, and the numeral "20" is printed within the star field of the flag.

Newly designed $20 notes are being issued in fall 1998. New $50 and $100 notes have already been introduced. Lower denominations will follow.

The watermark is formed by varying paper density in a small area during the papermaking process. The image is visible as darker and lighter areas when held up to the light. The watermark does not copy on color copiers, thereby making it an easy way to verify the note and making it harder to use lower denomination paper to print counterfeit higher denominations. It depicts the same historical figure as the engraved portrait.

A security thread is a thin thread or ribbon running through a bank note substrate. The thread in U.S. currency has printing and on the new $50 note, micro-printing and graphics. The thread in the new notes glows when held under an ultraviolet light. In the $100 note it glows red, and in the new $50 note it glows yellow. In addition, it is visible in transmitted light, but not in reflected light. This characteristic makes it difficult to copy with a color copier. Using a unique thread position for each denomination starting with the new $100 note guards certain counterfeit techniques, such as bleaching ink off a lower denomination and using the paper to "reprint" the bill as a higher value note.

During fiscal year 1997, a total of $136,205,241 in counterfeit US currency appeared worldwide.

In the US the most counterfeited denomination is the $20 note, followed by the $100 note, the $10 note, the $50 note, the $1 note, and the $5 note. The $100 note is the most common foreign-produced counterfeit note.

US Currency – The 1996 hundred dollar bill and fifty dollar bill have a watermark of Ben Franklin’s face to the right of the portrait.

The 1996 hundred dollar bill has a security thread which fluoresces orange under ultraviolet detector.

Travelers Checks – All Travelers Checks have watermarks within the paper when viewed over the light.

Credit Cards – All Credit Cards have hidden written symbolism which can only be viewed under the fluorescent light.

American Express – "A" – "M" – "E" – "X" in one inch letters with a globe in the center.

(UV) State Issued Drivers Licenses – as well as Identification Cards have the seal of that particular state on the upper portion of the card extending above the card portion itself into the clear lamination. If a card is opened a new picture is inserted, the re-lamination would not be duplicated easily. The fluorescent ink is engrained in the laminated portion itself and only visible under the light.

(UV) Resident Alien Cards – If authentic will fluoresce "USA" throughout the card under the light.

(UV) Passports – Fluoresces with US immigration Date stamp of entry. Additionally various countries may have fluorescent emblems.

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This page last update on: 04/14/08