Contents of the article
- What denominations of U.S. dollar bills are there?
- Which banknotes are most often counterfeited: statistics
- What are the most common types of counterfeits?
- How to spot counterfeit dollars in 30 seconds
- How to check U.S. Dollars at home
- How to сheck a $100 bill
- Old $100 bills
- How to check dollars with an ultraviolet light
- Where to verify the authenticity of dollars
- What to do if you have doubts about a banknote
- How counterfeiting methods are changing
- Conclusion
Counterfeit dollars are the main pitfall you can fall into when exchanging currency. Today, scammers have learned to circumvent even the latest security technologies. Most often, counterfeit bills are encountered during informal currency exchanges or cash transactions between private individuals.
The U.S. dollar is the undisputed leader for saving money, making large purchases, and traveling both in Ukraine and around the world. However, the immense popularity of the American currency has a downside: it is the most frequently counterfeited currency.
In this article, we’ll look at how to verify a dollar bill’s authenticity quickly, accurately, and without special equipment; what signs to look for at home; when to contact a bank; and what to do if a bill raises doubts.
What denominations of U.S. dollar bills are there?
Banknotes in denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 are currently in circulation. Each has its own design and set of security features.
The front side of modern banknotes features well-known American statesmen: George Washington ($1), Thomas Jefferson ($2), Abraham Lincoln ($5), Alexander Hamilton ($10), Andrew Jackson ($20), Ulysses S. Grant ($50), and Benjamin Franklin ($100).
Regardless of denomination, all modern dollar bills have security features that allow you to verify their authenticity even without special equipment.
For most Ukrainians, the $100 bills are of the greatest practical interest, as they are most often used for savings, currency purchases, and large transactions. It is this denomination that is most frequently counterfeited.
Which banknotes are most often counterfeited: statistics
According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, there are between 70 and 200 million counterfeit dollars in circulation worldwide. Statistics show that one in every 10,000 banknotes could be counterfeit.
The NBU reports that among the seized counterfeit foreign currency banknotes, U.S. dollars predominate—93%, while the share of euros is about 7%.
The $100 bill remains the absolute leader in terms of the number of counterfeits—accounting for about 85% of all recorded cases.
The reason for these statistics is simple: the $100 bill is widely used for savings, currency exchange, and large transactions, which is why it most often attracts the attention of counterfeiters. That is why knowing how to verify the authenticity of a $100 bill is especially useful for anyone who handles cash.
What are the most common types of counterfeits?
Not all counterfeit dollars are equally sophisticated. Some can be detected in a matter of seconds, while others require professional examination.
The most common types of counterfeits are:
- Simple copies. Banknotes printed on ordinary paper using an inkjet or laser printer. They are usually identified by poor-quality paper, the absence of security features, and blurry printing.
- Altered banknotes. Fraudsters alter the denomination of a genuine lower-denomination bill, attempting to pass it off as a higher-denomination one. In such cases, you should carefully check the portrait, denomination, and other design elements for consistency.
- Souvenir banknotes. These items are sometimes used for giveaways, photo shoots, or educational purposes. They may resemble real money, but usually contain corresponding markings.
- High-quality counterfeits. The most difficult type to detect. Such banknotes may partially reproduce watermarks, security threads, and other security features, so their authenticity can sometimes only be confirmed using professional equipment.
How to spot counterfeit dollars in 30 seconds
To quickly verify the authenticity of a dollar bill, simply examine the paper, watermark, and security thread—these are the basic security features found on all genuine U.S. banknotes.
Even without any experience, you can tell in just 30 seconds whether a bill is genuine. If you’re short on time, use this simple method:
- Feel the paper. Genuine dollars are made from a blend of cotton and linen, so they have a distinctive dense texture and a slight “crunchy” feel.
- Hold the bill up to the light. A genuine bill should have a visible watermark and security thread embedded in the paper.
- Tilt the bill at different angles. On modern bills, certain elements change color or create a motion effect.
In most cases, this check allows you to quickly identify crude counterfeits without using additional equipment.
How to check U.S. Dollars at home
You can check U.S. dollars at home without any special equipment—all you need to do is examine the paper’s texture, the raised print, the microprint, and the serial numbers. All you need is good lighting and a careful inspection of the bill.
Key features of genuine banknotes
Pay attention to the following key features:
- Paper and texture. Genuine bills do not resemble ordinary paper: they are stiff and durable, have a characteristic “dry” sound, and do not shine like printer paper.
- Embossed printing. Run your finger over the portrait or text—you’ll feel a slight raised texture. Counterfeits are often smooth.
- Microprinting. Under a magnifying glass, you can see tiny text (USA, denomination). On counterfeits, it’s blurred or missing.
- Serial number. On genuine bills, it is clear and identical in two places. On counterfeits, serial numbers may have uneven printing, varying intensity, or differ in quality.
If you want to delve deeper into the topic, read our article What is counterfeit money and how to spot it? — it will help you better understand the risks.
Common mistakes when checking banknotes for authenticity
Even when they know how to spot counterfeit dollars, people often make mistakes when checking currency.
The most common ones are:
- focusing only on the banknote’s color and overall appearance;
- checking only one security feature, such as the watermark;
- ignoring the paper’s texture and raised printing;
- assuming that older series are automatically suspicious or are no longer in circulation;
- trusting the currency seller without checking the bills yourself;
- buying currency from unverified sources without the ability to immediately verify the bills’ authenticity.
For more details on all the nuances of exchanging foreign currency, read our article Currency without stress: rules for safe exchange.
How to сheck a $100 bill
When checking a $100 bill, start by looking at the blue security strip, the portrait of Benjamin Franklin, and the color-shifting “100.”
On genuine bills:
- Franklin watermark — when held up to the light, an image of Benjamin Franklin appears in the blank space to the right of the portrait and is visible on both sides of the bill.
- Security thread — a built-in thread running vertically to the left of the portrait. The thread is printed with alternating letters “USA” and the number 100, and is visible on both sides of the bill. The thread glows pink under ultraviolet light.
- 3D security ribbon — a blue ribbon woven into the paper, not printed on the surface. When tilted, the bells transform into the number “100” and create a motion effect.
- Bell in the inkwell — changes color from copper to green when viewed from different angles.
- The “100” denomination in the lower right corner — also changes color from copper to green.
- Embossed printing — Benjamin Franklin’s shoulder and clothing have a characteristic rough texture typical of genuine banknotes.
- Microprinting — under a magnifying glass, you can see the inscriptions “THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “USA 100,” and “ONE HUNDRED USA.”
Old $100 bills
In Ukraine, there is still a widespread myth that older series of dollar bills are not accepted by banks or are worth less. In reality, all genuine U.S. Federal Reserve System dollar bills issued since 1914 and not withdrawn from circulation by the issuer remain legal tender. For banks and official exchange offices, the authenticity and physical condition of the bill are decisive, not the year of its issue.
How to check an old-style $100 bill:
- there is no 3d strip or bell in the inkwell;
- there is a watermark and a security thread;
- there is microprinting and embossing.
How to check dollars with an ultraviolet light
Look for the security thread and fibers under UV light:
- the security strip glows a distinctive color depending on the bill’s denomination;
- the red and blue fibers become bright;
- the paper itself does not glow completely.
A solid or unnatural glow of a bill under UV light may indicate a counterfeit or serious damage to the bill.
Where to verify the authenticity of dollars
The most reliable way to get an accurate result is to have the dollars checked at a bank, which, in case of doubt, will send the bills for examination to the National Bank of Ukraine.
Where to have dollars authenticated:
- banks;
- currency exchange offices;
- financial institutions equipped with currency detectors.
How much does it cost to have dollars authenticated at a bank
Authentication terms may vary depending on the bank and the type of service. If you have a suspicious bill that the bank sends for analysis, you should check the verification procedure and possible fees directly with the financial institution.
Modern banknote sorting machines check bills for several features at once—ultraviolet, infrared security features, and magnetic strips. Therefore, the risk of counterfeit bills entering circulation is significantly lower at banks.
If you’re unsure where to verify the authenticity of dollars, choose bank teller windows—this guarantees accuracy. Based on the verification results:
- genuine foreign currency — is returned to the owner, even if the banknotes are worn;
- counterfeit bills — are confiscated without compensation and handed over to law enforcement agencies.
What to do if you have doubts about a banknote
If you have any doubts, do not use the banknote and contact your bank to have it verified. Important:
- do not attempt to exchange a suspicious banknote;
- contact your bank for an examination;
- if the banknote is confirmed to be counterfeit, it may be confiscated.
Remember: using counterfeit money can have legal consequences. The National Bank of Ukraine systematically cooperates with government agencies, including the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine and the National Police of Ukraine, to combat the circulation of counterfeit money.
How counterfeiting methods are changing
The history of counterfeiting shows that as banknote security measures improve, so do the methods used to forge them. Some schemes have gained worldwide notoriety due to their scale or the unusual methods used to produce the counterfeit money.
Here are a few striking stories of how clever fraudsters challenged the global financial system:
- The $20,000 chemical wash (Tarshema Bryce): The fraudster washed the denomination off genuine banknotes to bypass the paper’s tactile verification. She soaked real $5 bills in degreaser, scraped off the ink with a toothbrush, and printed scanned $50 and $100 bills on the clean, dried sheets using a home printer.
- The $7,000,000 newspaper “Sandwich” (Albert Talton): A large-scale scheme that spanned 9 countries. The fraudster printed watermarks on the inside of the newsprint, which successfully fooled the detector markers. He then glued two sheets together, creating a three-layer “sandwich,” and printed the front and back sides of the bills on standard office printers.
- $250,000,000 in swiss banknotes (Frank Bourassa): The largest scam in history organized by a single individual. He spent $300,000 to fraudulently purchase genuine, security-featured paper—complete with watermarks and security threads—from a Swiss company. The money was printed on professional presses, and the fraudster managed to avoid severe punishment through a deal with Canadian authorities: he exchanged $200 million in finished counterfeits for his freedom, secretly hiding or selling the remaining $50 million.
- State-level scale: North Korea’s “Superdollars” (Billions in circulation): A headache for U.S. intelligence agencies, elevating counterfeiting to a state-level operation. North Korea purchased the exact same industrial intaglio printing presses and identical inks used by the U.S. government. Their counterfeit $100 bills are so flawless that even bank scanners couldn’t detect them—only Federal Reserve experts under a microscope could. It was precisely because of this threat that the U.S. was forced to completely redesign the $100 bill, adding a new blue 3D security strip.
Conclusion
Knowing how to distinguish counterfeit dollars from genuine ones is an important financial security skill. In most cases, it is sufficient to carefully examine the bill, hold it up to the light, assess the texture of the paper, and check the main security features.
At the same time, no self-inspection provides an absolute guarantee. If a bill raises even the slightest doubt, you should not use it for transactions or attempt to exchange it on your own. The best solution is to contact a bank for a professional verification.
A few minutes spent on an expert examination will help you avoid financial losses, unpleasant situations during currency exchange, and possible legal consequences associated with the circulation of counterfeit banknotes.
