The number of counterfeit banknotes withdrawn from circulation is on the rise. According to the latest Banque de France (BCE) report, published on Monday January 30, 2023, 376,000 counterfeit notes were entered in one year, i.e. 8.4% more than the previous year. A significant increase, which puts an end to the progress hitherto exemplary. In 2021, only 347,000 banknotes had been seized, a historically low number. According to the ECB, this increase shows “the recovery of economic activity in 2022, after the lifting of most restrictions linked to the Covid-19 pandemic”.
Some denominations are much more counterfeit than others. 20, 50, 100 euros… Which counterfeits are you most likely to have in your hands? In our slideshow below, find out which banknotes are the most counterfeited. “Note that the risk of having a counterfeit note in your hands is very low. It is estimated at one for 20,000 banknotes on average, all denominations combined”, specifies the Banque de France on its official site.
There are four elements that make it possible to recognize a counterfeit note. Here they are :
According to article 442-7 of the penal code, it is forbidden to put a counterfeit note back into circulation. If you find yourself in possession of a counterfeit banknote, return it to the Banque de France against a receipt.
