Counterfeit Note - What To Do If You Received One

serenemaklong.blogspot.com

IF you have received forged notes, you are not eligible to return or reuse it. Lodge a report with the police immediately and surrender the notes to them. Forged notes received will not be replaced with legal tender.   

If you realise you have been given a counterfeit note by a merchant, make a mental note of the person’s description as well as his companion, if any, advises Bank Negara Malaysia. Also, note the registration number of his vehicle, if any. After that, avoid handling the note further. Place it in an envelope or a plastic cover and make a police report.

It is not advisable to write on or cut the  currency. According to Bank Negara, those found in possession of or using forged or counterfeited bank notes can be imprisoned up to 20 years. A fine may also be imposed.

Tips on how to spot fake RM50 notes from the third series (issued between 1996 and 1999) and fourth series (issued in 2012): 

At first glance

The first tell-tale sign is the feel of the note, which is slightly rough and crisp. When fake notes and genuine bills are handled at the same time, it is easy to tell them apart. However, this might not work if the counterfeit bill has been washed with soap and water. The layer of chemicals on the note will fade away, so the note won’t feel crisp anymore.

Graphics on the original bills will look slightly raised while those on counterfeit bills appear “flat”. Examine both sides of the note. One side may look genuine but the other may not. If the colours look and feel inconsistent, it might be a counterfeit.  

Genuine notes also carry a watermark portrait and aa security thread. For notes in the third and fourth series, the watermark portrait of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the left has both dark and light tones. Soft and shady outlines give the image a three-dimensional effect. This image on a counterfeit bill may not be visible and if it is, it may appear to look like a drawing with sharp outlines.

If the security thread running vertically down the note is blurred and can easily be scraped off, it is a ccounterfeit bill. The original note’s security thread appears embedded and a clear silver dotted line can be seen on the back. The respective denomination and the work “BNM” are printed repeated throughout the thread. For all the notes in the third series, the halves of the hibiscus flower on the top and bottom are always placed in the exact positions on the back of the bill. A similar feature will be seen on notes grom the fourth series - the positions of the graphics on the front and the back will be perfectly matched when the bill is held against light.

Looking Closer

The lettering on both sides of the banknotes, such as the words ”BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA“,“BNM” and the denomination can be seen clearly and sharply when using a magnifying glass. Counterfeit notes, however, will reveal dots.

The thick holographic strip seen on the right side of the note only appears for RM50 and RM100 denominations. A continuation of the design or patterns is clearly seen on the strip, alongside the numeric numbers of the denominations as well as the words “BNM”. According to Danish company Papierfabrik Louisenhal GmbH, one of the main suppliers of the Eurobank notepapers, the long-lasting economical anti-copy device (LEAD) feature is a “security system that consists of a paper primer, a hologram stripe applied to it, together with intaglio embossing”. “This feature is very difficult to counterfeit,” says Bank Negara. According to its guidelines, some counterfeiters will attempt to simulate this by using a plain shiny foil.

Another security feature appears in the centre of the note, where a square can be seen on notes from the third series and a shaded circle for the fourth series. An image of the note’s denomination – “RM50” or “RM100” – can be seen on this security feature by tilting the note at various angels. This printed and embossed Anti-copy key (PEAK) feature is either not found or simulated on counterfeit bills.

Under ultraviolet light, various fluorescent elements in the background on both sides of the note can be seen in different colours. These elements are visible to the naked eye. Other elements that can be seen under UV light across all denominations are the invisible fibres. These small “hairlines” cannot be replicated. This feature is only present in genuine bank notes and is embedded within the paper.

Watch Where You Change Your Notes 

Although industry sources observe that the counterfeiting of our bank notes is not rampant at the moment, the same cannot be said of other countries. International syndicates have been printing counterfeit notes, such as the US dollar. These counterfeit notes are commonly found in Third World countries that accept USD as a local currency, such as Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Some unscrupulous local money changers may also slip in a few counterfeit bills along with genuine notes to their customers. Therefore, stick with the reputable moneychangers. Check and feel each note upon receipt.