Many businesses everyday lose money due to counterfeit cash. Counterfeiters constantly develop more sophisticated techniques in order to fool business owners and shop assistants. So how can you tell if money is counterfeit?

Notes may feel or look very genuine, but you may not be able to tell if money is counterfeit with just a glance. Do not be embarrassed to check suspect notes in front of customers. It is in everyone’s interest that these notes are taken out of circulation. The notes should be thoroughly checked if they are suspected of being counterfeit.

There are a number of techniques that can be used to tell if money is counterfeit. Can you tell if money is counterfeit just by touch? People handle money everyday on a regular basis. We may not be aware of it, but our touch senses are able to differentiate between real and counterfeit money. Real notes have minute fibers embedded in the paper; counterfeiters try and replicate this, but the fibers will not be embedded.

The paper of a counterfeit bill will also feel different than that of genuine bank notes. It may be more limp than the special paper that real notes are printed on. Another age-old way to tell if a bill is counterfeit is to hold it up to a light. Watermarks and a thread running through the note should be visible when held to the light. Counterfeiters will try and replicate these, but the detail will not be as fine as the original.

A further way that will help you tell if money is counterfeit is the print quality of the note. Real bank notes have a crisp touch, even if they are old. The definition of the print will be very clear, with fine details. Counterfeits will not have such great detail; some parts of the note may appear blurred, and other parts may be missing altogether.

Serial numbers are another good way to tell if money is counterfeit. Genuine serial numbers are printed with the same distinctive color as the treasury seals. The numbers should be spaced precisely and have their own distinct styling. With counterfeit notes, the seal numbers may be a different color and the numbers may not be as even.

There are also many methods that genuine note printers use to foil counterfeiters. Holograms and foils are used more and more in bank notes to foil the counterfeiter. These types of bank note processes are very difficult for the counterfeiter to replicate. There are also ultraviolet machines available that can tell whether money is counterfeit. These omit certain features shown in daylight and show other features not normally seen.

There are also detector pens that can be swiped across notes to tell if money is counterfeit. They turn the swiped area of the note a certain color on genuine notes and another color on counterfeit notes. If you are passed a counterfeit note, do not give it back to the customer; delay the customer and inform the appropriate authorities immediately.