Counterfeit bills are always an issue in our industry, check out the the following video and post for tips on how to spot fake bills. Also included is a photo of some fake bills drivers at Columbus Yellow Cab have recently received, notice the indications that they are counterfeit!
1. Color shifting Ink
One of the first things to look for when checking to see whether or not a bill is authentic is to see if the bill denomination on the bottom right hand corner has the right color shifting ink. All denominations of $5 or more have this security feature, going back to 1996.
2. Raised Printing
All authentic US reserve notes have raised printing. Many times, counterfeiters have a tough time duplicating this kind of printing method.
3. Blurry Borders, Printing, or Text
If you notice significantly blurry borders, printing, or text, it is an automatic red flag. Authentic bills are extremely detailed, made using die-cut printing plates that are capable of creating impressively fine lines. Printers are rarely capable of the same level of detail. Take a close look, especially at the borders, to see if there are any blurred parts in the bill.
4. Red and Blue Threads
If you take a close look at an authentic bill, you will see that there are small red and blue threads woven in and out within the fabric of the bill. Printers try to reproduce this effect by printing red and blue threads onto the bill in a similar pattern. But, a close look will often reveal that such printing is merely surface level, tipping you off to a counterfeit.
5. Watermark
The next security feature to look for, is the characteristic watermark. In many of the new bills, the watermark is actually a replica of the face on the bill. In some, it is only an oval spot.
There are several things to keep in mind when examining a watermark.
The watermark should only be visible when you hold it up to the light
The watermark should be on the right side of the bill
If it is a face, the watermark face should exactly match the face on the bill (Sometimes counterfeiters use lower bills and just reprint, in which case the face wouldn’t match)
If there is no watermark or the watermark is visible without being held up to the light, the bill is most likely a counterfeit
6. Security Thread
The security thread is one of the most distinctive security indicators of an authentic bill.
If you hold any bill up to the light, you will see a security strip on an authentic bill. It will have “USA” and the Bill’s denomination, aka “USA 20” running vertically on the bill.
