How to Spot Fake Currency: A Complete Guide to Authentic Money Verification

Make sure your wallet doesn’t contain counterfeit bills.

Everything You Need to Know About Currency

What materials are banknotes made from? Who designs them? Does issuing new notes affect inflation? These questions will be answered in the upcoming lecture series "Financial Environment." The next session will take place on February 28 at 7:00 PM at the Emotional Intelligence Development Center, located at 4th Syromyatnichesky Lane, Building 1, Entrance 4, Moscow.

Admission to all lectures in the "Financial Environment" series is free, but seating is limited, so it’s best to register in advance. Secure your spot by signing up through the provided link.

How Prevalent is Counterfeit Currency?

The Central Bank regularly publishes statistics on counterfeit bills and coins detected within the banking system. In 2017, a total of 45,313 counterfeit notes were discovered, compared to 61,046 in 2016.

The most frequently counterfeited note is the $70 equivalent, while lower denomination notes and coins are less targeted. The Central Federal District reports the highest number of counterfeit detections, followed by the Southern and Northwestern Federal Districts.

To learn more about currency issuance, control, and circulation, visit fincult.info.

Key Features of Genuine Banknotes

Authentic banknotes can be identified by the following security features:

• Watermarks visible when held up to light.
• Micro-patterns and inscriptions viewable under 8-10x magnification.
• Color-shifting elements that change depending on the viewing angle.
• Raised inscriptions detectable by touch.
• Elements that fluoresce under ultraviolet or infrared light.

To confirm the authenticity of a note, check at least three different types of security features.

If you find notes of the same denomination with slight design differences, don’t panic. These are likely different series from various years—check the issue year printed on the note.

What Genuine Currency Looks Like

Currently, the most common circulating banknotes are from the 2004 and 2010 series. Older notes are rarer since the average lifespan of a banknote is about 2 to 2.5 years. Here’s how to identify genuine notes at home without special equipment.

$70 Equivalent Note – 2010 Series

The front depicts a monument to Nikolay Muravyov-Amursky against the backdrop of the Khabarovsk embankment, while the back features the Amur River bridge.

When held to light, the right coupon area reveals Muravyov-Amursky’s portrait and the denomination number. Tiny perforations forming the number 5000 are visible but should not be felt.

The distant Amur shore image consists of fine graphic elements.

The decorative band at the bottom of the front includes a microtext border repeating the number 5000. Both the top and bottom areas contain slanted inscriptions with the repeated number 5000.

The back side features two microtext strips: the top with repeated 5000 and the bottom with “CBR5000.” Thin line patterns appear in the upper and lower coupon fields, appearing as a uniform field without magnification.

The security thread shows the denomination number, with digits shifting relative to each other when viewed at an angle.

The vertical band’s center has a solid field where red and green stripes appear as you tilt the note. The decorative band reveals “PP” letters at an angle. The Khabarovsk coat of arms appears green, and a shiny horizontal stripe moves up or down depending on the tilt.

Raised inscriptions include “Bank of Russia Ticket” and “Five Thousand Rubles,” tactile marks for visually impaired individuals, denomination digits, and edge strokes on the front.

For detailed information on banknote security features, visit the Central Bank’s official website.

2017 Series Banknotes

At the end of 2017, the Central Bank introduced new banknotes with advanced security features previously unused. Counterfeiters will find these difficult to replicate for some time. Below are key verification methods for these new notes.

Regarding the images of Sevastopol and Vladivostok on the notes, these cities were selected based on the highest votes in a nationwide poll.

The designs were created by artists from Goznak and the Central Bank, with over 20 sketches considered. The color schemes were chosen to make denominations easily distinguishable, aiding visually impaired users.

The $3 equivalent note is made of high-density paper with polymer coating, increasing durability and dirt resistance, expected to last up to 20 months in circulation. For comparison, $7 and $14 equivalent notes last about 15 months, while the $28 equivalent note lasts over 2.5 years.

Visit the Central Bank’s website for detailed descriptions and authenticity features of the $3 and $28 equivalent notes.

$3 Equivalent Note

The front shows the Monument to the Sunken Ships in Sevastopol, and the back depicts the Chersonesus Taurica Museum-Reserve.

When held to light, a security thread appears as a dark strip with repeating “200” inscriptions.

Four thread fragments emerge on the front surface. A watermark showing the Monument to the Sunken Ships and the number 200 is visible on the light field on the right.

Microtext reading “Bank of Russia” appears near the security thread on the top and bottom. Images of the Grafskaya Wharf are on both sides, with “Sevastopol” repeated in microtext beneath. The denomination number is bordered by repeating “Sevastopol” text.

The back features a map of Crimea composed of tiny elements including the number 200 and images of local flora and fauna. Below the Chersonesus image, microtext reads “Chersonesus Taurica.”

Tilt the note to see light rectangles on the security thread moving up and down. Viewed at a sharp angle, the thread becomes rainbow-colored displaying the ruble symbol ₽.

The word “Russia” is visible on a plain field under the emblem on the left side; tilting reveals the denomination numbers in different colors.

Raised inscriptions include “Bank of Russia Ticket” and “Two Hundred Rubles,” along with horizontal strokes on the edges.

$28 Equivalent Note

The front depicts the Russian Bridge and the Far Eastern Federal University building in Vladivostok; the back shows the Vostochny Cosmodrome.

The security thread appears as a dark strip with repeating “CB RF” inscriptions when held to light.

A watermark of the bridge and the number 2000 is visible on the light field on the right.

Microtext reading “Bank of Russia” is located at the top and bottom of both sides. The university image includes microtext “Vladivostok” repeated in the lower part. The denomination number is surrounded by repeated “Vladivostok” text, and a microtext strip reading “2,000 rubles” runs below.

The back features a map of the Russian Far East composed of tiny elements including the number 2000 and local flora and fauna. The background includes tiny space-themed graphics. Below the cosmodrome image, negative microtext reads “Vostochny Cosmodrome.”

Tilt the note to observe the denomination digits moving along the security thread. At sharp angles, colorful ruble symbols appear on a rainbow background. On the plain field with the word “Russia” on the front left, the number 2000 becomes visible when tilted.

A blue patch next to the denomination reveals the ruble symbol at an angle. The sun image features a shiny ring that moves when the note is tilted.

Run your finger over the note to feel raised strokes on the edges, the denomination number, and inscriptions “Bank of Russia Ticket” and “Two Thousand Rubles.”

What to Do if You Have Counterfeit Money

If you suspect you have counterfeit bills, do not try to quickly spend them at local stores. Doing so risks criminal charges. The penal code provides penalties of up to 5 years of forced labor or up to 8 years imprisonment plus a substantial fine for knowingly distributing counterfeit currency.

If in doubt, visit a bank. Specialists will examine suspicious notes and may send them for detailed analysis. If the notes are genuine, the commercial bank will credit your account accordingly. Unfortunately, if the notes are counterfeit, their value will not be reimbursed.

You can also report counterfeit money to the police. Provide details on when and how you received the notes. They will be sent for examination, and an investigation will begin. If you can trace the source, you may recover losses.

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