The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) reports reduction in counterfeit banknotes of domestic currency in H1 2019. The number and the value of counterfeit hryvnia banknotes decreased by 26% and 20% yoy respectively.
In general, the number of counterfeit hryvnia banknotes remains consistently low.
As usual, the most banknotes withdrawn from circulation (99%) were of the following four denominations:
- UAH 500 (50% of the total number of the seized counterfeit banknotes)
- UAH 100 (24%)
- UAH 200 (14%)
- UAH 50 (11%).
Other withdrawn counterfeit banknotes of denominations ranging from UAH 1 to UAH 20 accounted for only 1%.
Most detected counterfeit banknotes were distributed through fastfood restaurants, retailers, and gas stations.
The majority of withdrawn counterfeit banknotes were printed on inkjet printers, 93%. Counterfeits printed on laser printers and photocopiers accounted for 6%, graphically printed made up 1%.
Hence, attention to suspicious banknotes allows to distinguish a counterfeit from an authentic banknote, since the image on most counterfeits is created by color dots.
At the same time, the NBU reports that in August the number of seized counterfeit 500 hryvnia banknotes designed in 2006 that were produced on an inkjet printers with a fake UV security feature.
Specifically, about 60 banknotes were seized that were distributed in cash desks of gas stations in different regions (Kyiv, Zakarpattia, Volyn, Cherkasy, and Zhytomyr oblasts and Kyiv city).
Insufficient visual and tactile inspections of banknote security features being practiced without special detectors for checking a banknotes authenticity under UV- and IR-light, such counterfeits may pose a serious threat.
Thus, the NBU urges the public, as well as tellers in banks and retailers handling cash to bear in mind the main hryvnia security features and ways for verifying authenticity.
One should remember, in case of doubt regarding authenticity of a banknote, take your time and check a few security features.
For reference:
Security features on the hryvnia guarantee that counterfeits can be identified not only using special devices, i.e. under UV- or IR-light, but also on closer visual and tactile inspections without any special detectors.
A banknote’s authenticity can be verified as follows:
1. Banknote paper can be felt. So do some relief images on the obverse owing to a special type of printing.
2. Placing a banknote against the light:
- watermarks (combined watermark for the portrait reflecting the portrait printed on the obverse and highlight watermark for the numeric denomination and hryvnia currency symbol)
- see-through register (overlapping image) are images printed in one place both on the obverse and the reverse and overlap or complement each other, when the banknote is placed against the light
- a stripe, fully imbedded into the paper, on which a direct and inverse images of the denomination and Ukraine’s small coat of arms can be seen under a magnifying glass.
3. When looked at from different angles:
- an image is printed in optically variable ink that changes color when looking at a banknote from different angles (middle and high denomination banknotes designed in 2003–2007 and 20 hryvnia banknotes designed in 2018) and produce a dynamic light effect (on 100 hryvnia banknotes designed in 2014 and 500 hryvnia banknotes designed in 2015)
- window polymer thread (partially imbedded into the paper) of a respective color (on 100 hryvnia banknotes designed in 2014 – dark blue, 500 hryvnia banknotes designed in 2015 – brown) presenting the numeric denomination and hryvnia currency symbol with a pronounced dynamic light effect (when the banknote is tilted, the background image moves in the opposite direction)
- latent image of the numerical denomination visible at a sharp angle to the light at eye level (the denomination numerals become visible and are dark against light background if looked at from the long side or light against dark background if looked at from the short side).
4. When magnifying (using a magnifying glass), printed microlettering and relief ink (portrait, a symbol for visually impaired etc.) become visible.
Please, be informed that the detailed description of all banknotes of the domestic currency in circulation and their security features can be found here.