Unmasking the Criminal Frauds and Forgeries

In news Dec 7, 2010

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20101206/us_yblog_thelookout/government-cant-print-money-properly

• US Treasury printed a LOT of $100 bill that had a crease (fold) in them when the paper went thru the machine for printing, causing a flaw.

• $110 billion worth

Technically they exist, but are out of circulation. They are worth more than

face value.

$500

Security Features:• Watermarks• security threads• metameric inks (IR scan)• see-through• Intaglio• visual impair devices• ascending serial numbers• OVIs (optically variable

inks)• latent images

• lift twins• fibers• Holograms• Foils• metallic inks• moiré s (graphic overlays)• anti-copies• microprints,• UV (ultra violet)

ink/security thread/fibers.

Watermarks

• A watermark is the most common anti-copy feature and is embedded into the note with a special wire mesh usually stamped by a copper wire and causes a thinning in the paper fibers, thus revealing an image.

Watermarks

HologramsFound on:• Money notes• Driver’s liscenses• ID cards• Credit cards

Defined as:A technique that allows the light scattered from an object to be recorded and later reconstructed so that it appears as if the object is in the same position relative to the recording medium as it was when recorded

Holograms

See-throughSecurity device that makes counterfeiting harder

Counterfeit detector pen• Normal wood-based paper= counterfeit money• The counterfeit detector pen is extremely simple.

It contains an iodine solution that reacts with the starch in wood-based paper to create a black stain.

• When the solution is applied to the fiber-based paper used in real bills, no discoloration occurs.

• The pen does nothing but detect bills printed on normal copier paper instead of the fine papers used by the U.S. Treasury

How Stuff Workshttp://money.howstuffworks.com/question108.htm

Patented counterfeit money detector pen - detects authenticity on U S currency instantly Good on al U S currency series 1959 and after Mark a small line on the U S bill - a light amber mark passes the test If the mark turn black or dark brown - bill is suspect Replace cap immediately after use

Cellulose is in wood

• Normal paper -- including notebook paper, newspaper, construction paper -- is all made out of cellulose, which comes from trees. The trees are chemically broken down into their individual wood fibers, and the cellulose fibers are chosen and formed into very thin sheets to create paper.

Counterfeit $20’s

Intaglio• Printmaking techniques in which the image is

incised into a surface, known as the matrix or plate. Copper or zinc plates are used as a surface, and the incisions are created by etching or engraving.

Ascending Serial Numbers

123456789

USA• TWO MOST IMPORTANT SECURITY FEATURES

OF US NOTES ARE the ink and paper.• Examination of ink and paper can be done• Watermarks can be investigated

Inks & Papers

• Four basic types of ink1. Modern Ink

– Contain dye, iron salts in a suspension of gallic or tannic acid

2. India Ink– Made of carbon particles and also called carbon black ink

3. Arabic Ink– Synthetic dyes with different polymers and acids

4. Ball Point pen ink– Synthetic dyes with solvents and additives.

Counterfeit Currency• Notes of the $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 denominations have not been printed for many years and are being withdrawn from circulation. • The portraits appearing on these notes are:– McKinley on the $500– Cleveland on the $1,000– Madison on the $5,000– Chase on the $10,000.

• Why no more large denominations of bills?• How many times can a bill be folded before it

has to be replaced?

• Large denomination bills can be seen at the Smithsonian

• 4000

$1000 bills

$5000

$100,000• This bill was only used for official transactions

between Federal Reserve banks (1860’s)

Counterfeit Currency• Jackson Portrait

• A common variation occurs in the portrait of Andrew Jackson on the $20 note.

• In the 1934 and 1950 series years, he is depicted with one more finger showing than on notes of other series years.

Photo: http://www.ustreas.gov/usss/money_design_features.shtml

Counterfeit CurrencyPhoto: http://www.ustreas.gov/usss/money_design_features.shtml

The EURO is used in 22 countries1) Andorra2) Austria3) Belgium4) Cyprus5) Finland6) France7) Germany8) Greece9) Ireland10) Italy11) Kosovo

12) Luxembourg13) Malta14) Monaco15) Montenegro16) Netherlands17) Portugal18) San Marino19) Slovakia20) Slovenia21) Spain22) Vatican City

POLYMER NOTESPlastic Money

These banknotes are made from a polymer (plastic) which greatly enhances durability of the banknotes. Polymer banknotes also incorporate many security features not available to paper banknotes, making counterfeiting much more difficult.

Plastic Notes

Australia Polymer Plastic Note