Three-step rule: How to spot fake euro notes circulating around Spain
Spanish police and the country’s central bank have shared some very useful tips for recognizing counterfeit banknotes in circulation in Spain and Europe.
In 2018 more than €2.7million worth of counterfeit bank notes were seized by Spanish authorities, an illicit practice that’s actually on a downward trend, in part because ordinary Europeans and Spaniards are getting better at spotting fake money.
In a bid to completely quash this type of forgery, the Bank of Spain together with Spain’s national police have reminded the general public of the three-step rule they have to follow in order to not get conned.
“Toca, Gira, Mira” is their slogan, “feel, turn, look” in English.
Here are the steps to follow:
Feel
According to the Bank of Spain, how the banknote feels in your hand is the easiest way to figure out if it’s forged. It should have a firm, slightly rough and resistant texture if it’s legit.
If the banknotes are fraudulent they’re likely to feel a lot more flaccid and waxy to the touch.
Another way of feeling if the banknote is fraudulent is by checking on the outer edges of the side with the hologram, with short diagonal lines running on either side. You should be able to feel the slight rougher edges of those dashes with the tip of your fingers.
Look
Hold the banknote up against a light source to make sure it has the watermark above the emerald green number in the bottom left corner (on the side with the hologram band on the right hand side).
On 20, 50, 100 and 200 euro notes, that same hologram should include a portrait of the goddess Europa in an abbey-shaped window.
Turn
When you turn the banknote vertically, the emerald green number in the bottom left corner of the hologram strip side should produce a turquoise metallic reflection.
¡TOCA, GIRA Y MIRA! No, no es la última canción del verano sino la forma de saber si un billete es falso verdadero.
No te pierdas los consejos del #bancodeespaña ⤵https://t.co/EVq7Z5rQ54 pic.twitter.com/NBdO74GPQW
— Policía Nacional (@policia) September 8, 2019
If you don’t immediately realize that you’ve been given a fake bank note/s, the one thing you shouldn’t do is try to knowingly pass it/them on to somebody else as real currency or form of payment, as that could end up landing you anything from a fine to 24-month prison sentence, depending on if the amount is under or above €400.
If you have doubts about the money being genuine, the best thing to do is to hand it in at any bank, who will notify you by post about their resolution of authenticity.
It’s also your best chance of getting back at the person who may have conned you.
?️ OJO ?️ ¡Qué no te la cuelen con billetes falsos!
⚠Toca, gira y mira todos los ? que te devuelven al darte el cambio de tu #compra.
? Si no sabes cómo identificar un billete #falso, echa un vistazo a estas recomendaciones del @BancoDeEspana ? pic.twitter.com/IfmPSfDxe8
— Ministerio Interior (@interiorgob) July 27, 2019
Comments
See Also
In 2018 more than €2.7million worth of counterfeit bank notes were seized by Spanish authorities, an illicit practice that’s actually on a downward trend, in part because ordinary Europeans and Spaniards are getting better at spotting fake money.
In a bid to completely quash this type of forgery, the Bank of Spain together with Spain’s national police have reminded the general public of the three-step rule they have to follow in order to not get conned.
“Toca, Gira, Mira” is their slogan, “feel, turn, look” in English.
Here are the steps to follow:
Feel
According to the Bank of Spain, how the banknote feels in your hand is the easiest way to figure out if it’s forged. It should have a firm, slightly rough and resistant texture if it’s legit.
If the banknotes are fraudulent they’re likely to feel a lot more flaccid and waxy to the touch.
Another way of feeling if the banknote is fraudulent is by checking on the outer edges of the side with the hologram, with short diagonal lines running on either side. You should be able to feel the slight rougher edges of those dashes with the tip of your fingers.
Look
Hold the banknote up against a light source to make sure it has the watermark above the emerald green number in the bottom left corner (on the side with the hologram band on the right hand side).
On 20, 50, 100 and 200 euro notes, that same hologram should include a portrait of the goddess Europa in an abbey-shaped window.
Turn
When you turn the banknote vertically, the emerald green number in the bottom left corner of the hologram strip side should produce a turquoise metallic reflection.
¡TOCA, GIRA Y MIRA! No, no es la última canción del verano sino la forma de saber si un billete es falso verdadero.
— Policía Nacional (@policia) September 8, 2019
No te pierdas los consejos del #bancodeespaña ⤵https://t.co/EVq7Z5rQ54 pic.twitter.com/NBdO74GPQW
If you don’t immediately realize that you’ve been given a fake bank note/s, the one thing you shouldn’t do is try to knowingly pass it/them on to somebody else as real currency or form of payment, as that could end up landing you anything from a fine to 24-month prison sentence, depending on if the amount is under or above €400.
If you have doubts about the money being genuine, the best thing to do is to hand it in at any bank, who will notify you by post about their resolution of authenticity.
It’s also your best chance of getting back at the person who may have conned you.
?️ OJO ?️ ¡Qué no te la cuelen con billetes falsos!
— Ministerio Interior (@interiorgob) July 27, 2019
⚠Toca, gira y mira todos los ? que te devuelven al darte el cambio de tu #compra.
? Si no sabes cómo identificar un billete #falso, echa un vistazo a estas recomendaciones del @BancoDeEspana ? pic.twitter.com/IfmPSfDxe8
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.