How to Spot Counterfeit Money; Tips on Catching Fake Bills

Over the last 6 years I have worked for three large banks and have been a bank teller for over three of those years. In the process of sorting through hundreds of thousands of bills I have weeded out around 15-20 counterfeit bills. Aside from ones I have found I often would be asked by customers and even police officers if a bill is legal tender or if it is a counterfeit. Here are several quick tips for catching counterfeit bills.

#1. Look at Both Sides of the Bill
The first thing I do when I receive a $50 or $100 bill I turn it over. Often the front is printed off looking much better than the back of the bill. I have seen several bills with odd coloring and even blotches of ink on the back of the bill, making it very easy to detect.

#2. Dates
One of the most common concerns of banking customers and tellers is taking a style of bill that is no longer produced since it doesn't look like the new style of bill. Counterfeiters are constantly trying to make productions of the new bills because many people may be unfamiliar with exactly how they look and feel. Do look twice at an older bill, but most counterfeits are from the newer designs.

#3. Serial Numbers
Twice when I received multiple counterfeit bills in one business deposit there were multiple bills with the same serial numbers. No legal tender has the same serial number, if you think a couple of bills look sketchy, check to make sure the serial numbers are not all the same. Also make sure the serial numbers on the same bill are the same on both sides of the bill, this would be an amateur mistake but I have seen it.

#4. Hold up to the Light
Yes, you may look dumb holding a bill someone just gave you up to the light, but light can expose many flaws located on counterfeit bills. The first thing you want to look for is a security strip. Then read the security strip! Most counterfeits are real bills, just washed clean and printed over into a larger denomination. Many older $5 are used to make $50's and $100's. About half of the counterfeits I have found have been of this variety. Also the ink may have bled and is easier spotted when held to the light.

#5. Feel of the Bill
U.S. Currency is not printed on your everyday printer paper. The feel of a bill is very distinct and not easy recreated unless the counterfeiters use a real bill to print over (this usually is the case). Rubbing your fingers on an edge of the bill should give you a good idea whether the bill is real or not. If it feels a little odd then look for the security strip...and read the strip!

#6. Why Counterfeit Pens Usually Don't Help
Like I stated before, most counterfeit bills are made from real bills of a lower denomination. Because of this fact, the counterfeit marker that is thought to be a valid way of finding fake bills is almost useless. The pen will make a counterfeit $100 bill (made from a real $5 bill) the same it would any other legal tender. Use your common sense and examine the bill regardless of whether the marker test passes.
Check out this story on how counterfeiting works on HowStuffWorks.com.