Estudio sobre las falsificaciones
In the last three years, the European Central Bank has withdrawn from circulation 17 million fake euro banknotes, worth 21.5 million euros.
According to data from the European Central Bank (ECB), the guardian of the coffers of the euro zone, in the triennium 2005-2007 a total of 1,705,000 counterfeit banknotes would have been withdrawn from circulation.
To these data are added those of the Europol, which figures, in the same period, 1,520,000 units of paper money that were apprehended before they reached the pockets of European citizens during that same period. Data from the second half of 2007 establish that 11,400 million legal bills circulated in those months.
The ECB has highlighted this newspaper that despite a slight rebound in the notes withdrawn in that second period of 2007, its number remains in the margins of the previous years since 2002, when it began to use the euro on the street.
"Every year since its launch, the number of counterfeits withdrawn remains lower than the total of illegal European banknotes discovered in 2001," the entity adds.
Thus, while in 2004 a total of 594,000 tickets were recovered, in 2005 they were 579,000, in 2006 565,000 and in 2007, 561,000. In the 2005-2007 period, the value of counterfeit paper money would reach 21.5 million euros, almost 6 million in 2005, 6.5 in 2006 and another 8.5 million more last year.
Compared, for example, to the 5,000 pesetas note of legal tender in 2001, which had 11 security marks, the paper currency has a total of 30, including a watermark that can be seen against the light (you can see an image and the figure that indicates its value), security thread (a dark line perceptible to backlight), hologram (on bills of 50, 100, 200 and 500) and ink that changes color when tilting the piece.
For the ECB, these security measures have meant that, until now, counterfeit banknotes are characterized by their "poor quality" and continue to recommend from their website on the touch, look and turn "to check if it is a authentic piece.
Made of cotton fiber, the fingers must perceive elements printed in relief on the front.
When observing it to the light one can observe, on both sides, the security thread and the reason for coincidence. Finally, when you tilt the bill you will see the brightness of the iridescent band and in the highest value the hologram and the ink that changes color. Likewise, nowadays, computer SOFTWARE, scanners and last generation laser printers incorporate security elements that prevent European paper money from being copied on home computers.
And, notice for navigators: in case of receiving a false bill or harbor doubts and deliver it to a bank for verification, the user should know that if it is really an illegal copy will lose the piece forever as it is a criminal object. In case it is legal tender, the ECB will return a new ticket of the same value.
Undoubtedly the favorite counterfeiter's ticket is still 50 euros, which represents 38% of those detected by the authorities. It would follow the blue of 20 (27.5%) although in constant decline, the one of 100 (22%), the one of 200 (2.5%), of 10 (2.5%) and in last place, those of 500 and of 5, both with 0.5%.
The rising star of counterfeiters is the 100 euro bill. Thus, if 2,693 units were withdrawn in 2005, in 2006 their detection skyrocketed and reached 33,400 tickets (1,500% more). The following year it reached 44,086. The 200 also gains criminal appreciation and if in 2005 2,067 pieces were located, last year amounted to 8,216.
According to data from the European Central Bank (ECB), the guardian of the coffers of the euro zone, in the triennium 2005-2007 a total of 1,705,000 counterfeit banknotes would have been withdrawn from circulation.
To these data are added those of the Europol, which figures, in the same period, 1,520,000 units of paper money that were apprehended before they reached the pockets of European citizens during that same period. Data from the second half of 2007 establish that 11,400 million legal bills circulated in those months.
The ECB has highlighted this newspaper that despite a slight rebound in the notes withdrawn in that second period of 2007, its number remains in the margins of the previous years since 2002, when it began to use the euro on the street.
"Every year since its launch, the number of counterfeits withdrawn remains lower than the total of illegal European banknotes discovered in 2001," the entity adds.
Thus, while in 2004 a total of 594,000 tickets were recovered, in 2005 they were 579,000, in 2006 565,000 and in 2007, 561,000. In the 2005-2007 period, the value of counterfeit paper money would reach 21.5 million euros, almost 6 million in 2005, 6.5 in 2006 and another 8.5 million more last year.
Compared, for example, to the 5,000 pesetas note of legal tender in 2001, which had 11 security marks, the paper currency has a total of 30, including a watermark that can be seen against the light (you can see an image and the figure that indicates its value), security thread (a dark line perceptible to backlight), hologram (on bills of 50, 100, 200 and 500) and ink that changes color when tilting the piece.
For the ECB, these security measures have meant that, until now, counterfeit banknotes are characterized by their "poor quality" and continue to recommend from their website on the touch, look and turn "to check if it is a authentic piece.
Made of cotton fiber, the fingers must perceive elements printed in relief on the front.
When observing it to the light one can observe, on both sides, the security thread and the reason for coincidence. Finally, when you tilt the bill you will see the brightness of the iridescent band and in the highest value the hologram and the ink that changes color. Likewise, nowadays, computer SOFTWARE, scanners and last generation laser printers incorporate security elements that prevent European paper money from being copied on home computers.
And, notice for navigators: in case of receiving a false bill or harbor doubts and deliver it to a bank for verification, the user should know that if it is really an illegal copy will lose the piece forever as it is a criminal object. In case it is legal tender, the ECB will return a new ticket of the same value.
Undoubtedly the favorite counterfeiter's ticket is still 50 euros, which represents 38% of those detected by the authorities. It would follow the blue of 20 (27.5%) although in constant decline, the one of 100 (22%), the one of 200 (2.5%), of 10 (2.5%) and in last place, those of 500 and of 5, both with 0.5%.
The rising star of counterfeiters is the 100 euro bill. Thus, if 2,693 units were withdrawn in 2005, in 2006 their detection skyrocketed and reached 33,400 tickets (1,500% more). The following year it reached 44,086. The 200 also gains criminal appreciation and if in 2005 2,067 pieces were located, last year amounted to 8,216.
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