Unmasking the Criminal Frauds and
Forgeries
In news Dec 7, 2010
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/2
0101206/us_yblog_thelookout/governmentcant-print-money-properly
• US Treasury printed a LOT of $100 bill that had
a crease (fold) in them when the paper went
thru the machine for printing, causing a flaw.
• $110 billion worth
Technically they exist, but are out of
circulation. They are worth more than
face value.
$500
Security Features:
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Watermarks
security threads
metameric inks (IR scan)
see-through
Intaglio
visual impair devices
ascending serial numbers
OVIs (optically variable
inks)
latent images
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lift twins
fibers
Holograms
Foils
metallic inks
moiré s (graphic overlays)
anti-copies
microprints,
UV (ultra violet)
ink/security thread/fibers.
Watermarks
• A watermark is the most common anti-copy
feature and is embedded into the note with a
special wire mesh usually stamped by a
copper wire and causes a thinning in the
paper fibers, thus revealing an image.
Watermarks
Holograms
Found on:
• Money notes
• Driver’s liscenses
• ID cards
• Credit cards
Defined as:
A technique that allows the
light scattered from an
object to be recorded and
later reconstructed so that
it appears as if the object is
in the same position relative
to the recording medium as
it was when recorded
Holograms
See-through
Security device that makes counterfeiting harder
Counterfeit detector pen
• Normal wood-based paper= counterfeit money
• The counterfeit detector pen is extremely simple.
It contains an iodine solution that reacts with the
starch in wood-based paper to create a black
stain.
• When the solution is applied to the fiber-based
paper used in real bills, no discoloration occurs.
• The pen does nothing but detect bills printed on
normal copier paper instead of the fine papers
used by the U.S. Treasury
How Stuff Works
http://money.howstuffworks.com/question108.htm
Patented counterfeit money detector pen detects authenticity on U S currency
instantly Good on al U S currency series
1959 and after Mark a small line on the U S
bill - a light amber mark passes the test If
the mark turn black or dark brown - bill is
suspect Replace cap immediately after use
Cellulose is in wood
• Normal paper -- including notebook paper,
newspaper, construction paper -- is all made
out of cellulose, which comes from trees. The
trees are chemically broken down into their
individual wood fibers, and the cellulose fibers
are chosen and formed into very thin sheets
to create paper.
Counterfeit $20’s
Intaglio
• Printmaking techniques in which the image is
incised into a surface, known as the matrix or
plate. Copper or zinc plates are used as a
surface, and the incisions are created by
etching or engraving.
Ascending Serial Numbers
56789
1234
USA
• TWO MOST IMPORTANT SECURITY FEATURES
OF US NOTES ARE the ink and paper.
• Examination of ink and paper can be done
• Watermarks can be investigated
Inks & Papers
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Four basic types of ink
1. Modern Ink
– Contain dye, iron salts in a suspension of gallic or tannic
acid
2. India Ink
– Made of carbon particles and also called carbon black ink
3. Arabic Ink
– Synthetic dyes with different polymers and acids
4. Ball Point pen ink
– Synthetic dyes with solvents and additives.
Counterfeit Currency
• Notes of the $500, $1,000, $5,000,
and $10,000 denominations have not
been printed for many years and are
being withdrawn from circulation.
• The portraits appearing on these notes
are:
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McKinley on the $500
Cleveland on the $1,000
Madison on the $5,000
Chase on the $10,000.
• Why no more large denominations of bills?
• How many times can a bill be folded before it
has to be replaced?
• Large denomination bills can be seen at the
Smithsonian
• 4000
$1000 bills
$5000
$100,000
• This bill was only used for official transactions
between Federal Reserve banks (1860’s)
Counterfeit Currency
• Jackson Portrait
• A common variation occurs in the
portrait of Andrew Jackson on the
$20 note.
• In the 1934 and 1950 series years,
he is depicted with one more finger
showing than on notes of other
series years.
Photo: http://www.ustreas.gov/usss/money_design_features.shtml
Counterfeit Currency
Photo: http://www.ustreas.gov/usss/money_design_features.shtml
The EURO is used in 22 countries
1) Andorra
2) Austria
3) Belgium
4) Cyprus
5) Finland
6) France
7) Germany
8) Greece
9) Ireland
10) Italy
11) Kosovo
12) Luxembourg
13) Malta
14) Monaco
15) Montenegro
16) Netherlands
17) Portugal
18) San Marino
19) Slovakia
20) Slovenia
21) Spain
22) Vatican City
POLYMER NOTES
Plastic Money
These banknotes are made
from a polymer (plastic)
which greatly enhances
durability of the banknotes.
Polymer banknotes also
incorporate many security
features not available to
paper banknotes, making
counterfeiting much more
difficult.
Plastic Notes
Australia Polymer Plastic Note