Detecting a counterfeit bill is not an impossible mission. Although at the beginning it may seem practically identical to a real one, a counterfeit bill usually has differences that give it away. With these four simple steps, you can find out if the banknote you are holding is legal or not:
1. Check its firmness
Hold it between your fingertips and touch it. Legal tender banknotes are made with security paper that has a distinctive feel: it is firm and resistant when touched. In addition to this, the main image of the banknote, the letters and the largest figure also have a certain relief that is perceptible to the touch.
2. Candlelight
Watch it carefully. If you put the banknote up to the light, a watermark should appear in the blank space on the side (to the left or right, depending on the side you are looking at) (diffuse image of an architectural element or the face of the mythological character Europa). You should also see the security thread: it is a dark and thin band that crosses the banknote from top to bottom and in which you can see its value. Many counterfeits lack this mark and this thread.
3. Find the hologram
Turn it around. On one of the faces there must be a hologram showing its value and the euro symbol; and in the new banknotes of the Europa series (5 and 10), the portrait of Europa and a window or architectural element also appear.
4. Browse other brands
Tilt it and move it. You will appreciate an iridescent band with the value of the banknote and the euro symbol. Or, you will see that the figure that is printed in one of its corners changes color as you tilt it. These are difficult details to reproduce on a counterfeit bill.
And if you are in "Inspector Gadget" mode and you want to know if a jewel is made of gold, if some urchin neighbor is stealing your wifi or what fabric it is a garment, do not miss this article.
