| Counterfeit money continues to be a growing | | | | Magnifying is an older and simpler way to combat |
| problem in the United States. Businesses and | | | | counterfeit bills. This usually involves some type of |
| individuals are more likely than ever to lose money | | | | magnification device to analyze microscopic details |
| due to inadvertent possession of counterfeit bills. Part | | | | found in authentic bills. This method of verifying fake |
| of protecting yourself against becoming a victim of | | | | bills is becoming more difficult to use due to |
| counterfeit money is understanding what makes a | | | | high-resolution printers abilities to reproduce high detail |
| legitimate bill. | | | | images. |
| Counterfeiters are right now utilizing high-tech | | | | Watermark typically involves a backlight that |
| equipment such as high-resolution color printers to | | | | illuminates a face or other image within the bill. This is |
| create bogus money. They are even bleaching lower | | | | a simple way to verify bills and requires little |
| denomination bills and re-printing higher denominations | | | | investment. Due to the use of bleached bills being |
| on the bleached paper to try and get past some | | | | re-printed with higher denominations, watermarks |
| lower-end detectors. In 2006, the Secret Service | | | | may still be present in counterfeit bills. |
| reported that 54% of seized counterfeit money was | | | | Ultraviolet involves a black light. This light will illuminate |
| printing on digital printers where this was only 1% of | | | | a yellowish-green stripe found in most U.S. currencies. |
| the cases ten years earlier. | | | | This UV stripe cannot be reproduced, but may be |
| The Bureau of Engraving and Printing has | | | | present in bleached bills that have been re-printed. |
| implemented several security features into bills now | | | | One of the most common detectors is the pen. |
| being produces such as watermarks, color-shifting | | | | These pens use an iodine solution that reacts with |
| emblems, micro printing and magnetic inks. There are | | | | starch found in most paper. This creates a dark mark. |
| several things to check for when verifying the | | | | Because U.S. currency does not contain this starch, |
| authenticity of a bill. These are magnetic detection, | | | | no mark will appear when the ink is applied. This is an |
| magnifying detection, watermark detection, ultraviolet | | | | effective counterfeit detection method, but will still |
| detection, light reflection and ink detection. | | | | not work with bleached bills that have been |
| Authentic bills in the United States, and several | | | | re-printed. |
| foreign currencies, are printed using special magnetic | | | | It is recommended to purchase a detector that |
| ink. This ink is unique only to authentic bills. Detectors | | | | utilizes several detection measures Counterfeit Bill |
| are available to businesses and individuals that are | | | | Detectors. Many bill counters also include built-in |
| capable of detecting this ink. These detectors are | | | | detection measures Money Counters With |
| highly effective. | | | | Counterfeit Detection. |