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Showing posts with label Counterfeit. Show all posts

£4.1m fake coins seized

On Wednesday, The Metropolitan Police seize fake coins totalling more than £4 million from three properties in North London, Hertfordshire and Essex. Most of the counterfeit coins were found in a 40ft freight container at Waltham Abbey, Essex. Police also found some of the counterfeits in two vehicles. In total, four million blank £1 coins and £107,000 in completed counterfeits. Metropolitan police believe this is the biggest counterfeit recovery in UK so far. Police are still investigating where the coins are pressed and believe some of the coins maybe already released in circulation.

Detective Inspector Bruce South, from the Met's projects team, said: "This seizure is a significant blow to the network behind it; individuals clearly intent on undermining the UK monetary system by producing counterfeit currency on an industrial scale.

"It is yet another example of the work this team is carrying out on a daily basis to tackle organised criminal networks."

Three men, aged 52, 43 and 27, were arrested and are being held at a north London police station on suspicion of money laundering, making counterfeit money and fraud.

Royal Mint has been actively helping public learn how to to detect fake coins, I had wrote before in my blog about it; How to spot fake £1 coin. If you find any fake in your change, its illegal to use it and you need to report it to the nearest Police station. Its an offence to own and circulate these coins under Britain Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.

Reporter-Please Do Research First

I am reading a blog post by sifu Dickson Niew just now; COUNTERFEIT 20 CENTS COIN IN MALAYSIA THIRD SERIES, about Guan Ming Daily report on new third series 20 cents coin was found in Perai, Penang. In that report, Miss Tan, who found that coin said the surface of the coin is very rough, design elements were very poor,colour of the coin was rather dulled. She claimed that the golden colour coating on the counterfeit coin can be easily scraped with finger nails. One question that come into my mind when I reading the news, do the reporter do some research before posting that news? I don't think so, because he/she don't asked any expert opinion in the report. It is just an assumption by a reporter who want to find a good news.

Here is what Malaysia coin expert, Dickson Niew said:

"I personally doubtful on the claims, because by logic, in terms of profit return it is more economical and profitable to produce a counterfeit new coin with 50 Cents denomination then the 20 Cents. If these counterfeiters/caveat emptors produce 20 Cents counterfeit coins, it has to produce a lot of coins in order to have enough of profit to share among them. Their cost of production has to be very low so that they can have a good margin as incentive to pay the runners to do marketing! Likely, this is a piece of original 20 Cents coin, it was placed in a very corrosive environment,thus caused the damage to the nickel brass coating of the coin. Best way to check its authenticity is by weight, anything different from the original weight of 4.18gm is questionable!"

For anyone who still don't know Sifu Dickson Niew. He is one of the committee members of Malaysia Numismatic Society (MNS) and expert in Malaysia coins counterfeit. He collect counterfeit coins to study and understand how counterfeiters are doing their job. Recently, he and another MNS committee members, Lawrence De Souza, feature in Kosmo news about latest MNS Auction last March; Dickson Niew in Kosmo. If Guan Ming Daily reporter are to far from Sifu Dickson, he/she can also contact Bank Negara first before make an assumption and share a false report in daily news.

Fake MNS Certificate

I think many of you already read Sifu Dickson Niew post about Fake Malaysia Numismatic Society (MNS) certificate for Sapuloh Watermark agong banknote. If you have not read it, you can go to his blog post; FORGERY OF MALAYSIA NUMISMATIC SOCIETY CERTIFICATES. That girl don't just using MNS name but also Jabatan Warisan Negara and Bank Negara Malaysia logo. This is a serious offence in Penal Code under Chapter XVIII since she is deceiving people by using society and government agencies names/logo; using a Malaysia Numismatic Society name registered with ROS (Registrar of Societies), most probably fake signature by MNS late President Mr. E. E. Sim (who was a judge and the Registrar of the High Court), Using BNM (Bank Negara Malaysia) logo and also using Jabatan Warisan Negara name without their consent.

Fake MNS Certificate

Bank Negara Malaysia logo

Jabatan Warisan Negara

Provision in Penal Code:
Making a false document
464. A person is said to make a false document—

(a) who dishonestly or fraudulently makes, signs, seals or executes a document or part of a document, or makes any mark denoting the execution of a document, with the intention of causing it to be believed that such document or part of a document was made, signed, sealed or executed by, or by the authority of a person by whom or by whose authority he knows that it was not made, signed, sealed or executed, or at a time at which he knows that it was not made, signed, sealed or executed;

(b) who without lawful authority, dishonestly or fraudulently, by cancellation or otherwise, alters a document in any material part thereof, after it has been made or executed either by himself or by any other person, whether such person be living or dead at the time of such alteration;or

(c) who dishonestly or fraudulently causes any person to sign, seal, execute or alter a document, knowing that such person by reason of unsoundness of mind or intoxication cannot, or that by reason of deception practised upon him he does not, know the contents of the document or the nature of the alteration.

A friend asked me yesterday if I ever seen such thing before. This is a first time it came with MNS certificate, I have seen a Sapuloh Watermark Agong with a certificate signed by Silat Mahaguru/Pawang/Bomoh before. These kind of people are so desperate to sell their item and capable to fake a document, as long as they can sell their item. I hope MNS, BNM and Jabatan Warisan Negara will take firm action to these people. To anyone who have bought a Sa-puloh Watermark Agong with a fake certificate from MNS, you need to report it to your nearest police station since it is also an offence to own such false document.

How to spot fake £1 coin

Yesterday, a report by Royal Mint said with every 100 pieces £1 coin, you can find 3 pieces fake coins. The recent survey indicated a counterfeit rate of around 3.09% for the £1 coin.With rising counterfeit coins in circulation, you need to know how to spot fake £1 coin. Royal Mint has been seriously trying to prevent fake coins in circulation and have released an easy-to-use guide and poster for you to download. Its an offence to own and circulate these coins under Britain Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981. If you find any fake in your change, its illegal to use it and you need to report it to the nearest Police station. Enforcement of these provisions is entirely a matter for law enforcement agencies, such as the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. Royal Mint is working closely with the Banks and Post Office to identify and withdraw counterfeits at cash centres.

How to spot a counterfeit pound coins:

1. Do the date and design match?

The reverse design on £1 coins is changed each year and therefore the design must match the year date. You cannot remember all the designs, you can check them at Royal Mint Website; one pound designs poster.

2. Edge Lettering is wrong

The lettering or inscription on the edge of a genuine coin must correspond with the year date. You can look at the the coin edge inscription list below. Usually the milled edge of a counterfeit is poorly defined and the lettering is uneven in depth and spacing.

3. Quality of the coins.

Genuine coins lose their lustre when they have been in circulation for some time. Some counterfeits appear more shiny and golden, and show no sign of age despite the date of the coin. The colour of the coin does not match genuine coins.

4. Orientation

The designs on both the “heads and tails” of the coin should be aligned when swivelled.

£1 Coins Edge Inscription and Years:
Decus et Tutamen =‘An ornament and a safeguard’from Virgil’s Aeneid.
Year: 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010.

Nemo Me Impune Lacessit=‘No one provokes me with impunity’ – the motto of the Order of the Thistle.
Year: 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999.

Pleidiol Wyf I’m Gwlad=‘True am I to my country’ from the Welsh National Anthem.
Year: 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000.

A decorative feature symbolising bridges and pathways.
Year: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007.

Domine Dirige Nos=‘Lord guide us’ – the motto of the city of London.
Year: 2010.

Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus= ‘What return shall we make for so much’ – the motto of the city of Belfast.
Year: 2010.

Date and Reverse Design
1983 Ornamental royal arms.
1984 Thistle sprig in a coronet, representing Scotland.
1985 Leek in a coronet, representing Wales.
1986 Flax in a coronet, representing Northern Ireland.
1987 Oak tree in a coronet, representing England.
1988 Crown over the Royal Shield.
1989 Thistle sprig in a coronet, representing Scotland.
1990 Leek in a coronet, representing Wales.
1991 Flax in a coronet, representing Northern Ireland.
1992 Oak tree in a coronet, representing England.
1993 Ornamental royal arms.
1994 Lion Rampant in a double tressure flory,representing Scotland.
1995 Dragon Passant representing Wales.
1996 Celtic cross and pimpernel, representing Northern Ireland.
1997 Three lions passant guardant, representing England.
1998 Issued in collectors' sets only, not for circulation.
1999 Issued in collectors' sets only, not for circulation.
2000 Dragon Passant representing Wales.
2001 Celtic cross and pimpernel, representing Northern Ireland.
2002 Three lions passant guardant, representing England.
2003 Ornamental royal arms.
2004 Scottish Forth Railway Bridge
2005 Welsh Menai Straits Bridge
2006 Northern Ireland Egyptian Arch at Newry
2007 English Millennium Bridge
2008 The shield from the Royal Coat of Arms.

Source: www.royalmint.com

£10, £20, £50 Pocket Tissues

A £10, £20, £50 Pocket Tissues that are on sale in eBay has been order to stop sale by Bank of England. The shop, Bright Ideas, in Melton, had been selling the novelty pocket tissues via its online eBay shop. The tissue are just smaller than the real banknotes and only printed on one side. As reported in financial-news.co.uk, a Bank of England spokesman said: “Under section 18(1) of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 it is a criminal offence for any person, without the prior consent in writing of the Bank of England, to reproduce on any substance whatsoever, and whether or not on the correct scale, any Bank of England banknote or any part of a Bank of England banknote. The images on the tissue products in question fall within the Act, and because we have not given permission for our copyrighted images to be used in this way we have asked eBay to remove them from their site".

I think Bank of England have the right to stop the sale because they have the copyright for the banknotes even if the Novelty tissue doesn't look like real money. They don't said anything about the action that Bank of England will be taken against the shop. I think they're also many same story to Malaysia banknotes too but most of it doesn't come out to our national newspaper. The recent one is an engine oil company who produce a discount coupon that look like a RM50 banknotes. The coupon has been withdrawn by the company but many collectors that I know still like to keep the coupon.

For Malaysia currency reproduction, Bank Negara Malaysia has issued this statement in their website:

You are not allowed to reproduce the Malaysian currency. It is also illegal for you to use any photograph, drawing or design of any note, coin or any part of the note or coin, of any size, scale or colour, in any advertising or on any merchandise or products, which are manufactured, sold, circulated or distributed except with the permission of BNM. You may be ﬁned up to RM5,000 if you were to reproduce the Malaysian currency without the permission of BNM.

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US Federal Reserve Bond Scam

USA Federal Reserve Bond Scam has been around since year 2001. Like the 1934 $100,000 dollars gold certificate scam, it started in Philippines. After over 10 years, most of the scam come out again in Malaysia. Maybe because Malaysia have so many rich, intelligent and genius people's who don't know how to look for scam information via the world wide web. Promise of a high return make people blind and that really help scammer to gain profit selling empty promises. I had been reading about currency related scam since 2009 and some of my reading has been share in this blog. Most of the scam happened in Malaysia is related to USA currency/bond that either counterfeit or never exist. Most of the time, people getting scammed will mad at me because I am telling them the truth. They scold me because I destroyed their hope and dreams to become a millionaire. I don't mind, its your money, I am only giving you fact and my opinion about related topic. I don't loose a single cent giving you advices.

How the scam work

Most of the Federal Reserve Bond or sometimes known as "World War II Reconciliation Bond" came with the year/series 1934. Most of the times, these fraudsters will tell you that they found these Federal Reserve bonds in a plane/battleship crash during Japanese Occupation in Malaya in 1941-1945. They will tell you that they had contact Federal Reserve Bank of United States of America and Federal Reserve Bank has confirm that the bond is genuine. They may have provide some website link/letter that will show you about the confirmation. You will be their assistant in Malaysia and you need to give some amount of money to someone in order to obtain some document that related to the bond release. Some of the fraudster even act as a Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) officers to obtain trust from you. Some of the bonds have a face value of USD$10,000 to USD$1 billion dollars. Some of them come in metal boxes and some come in a colour paper. The bond may look old because the fraudster getting them wet and mouldy. The amount of bonds can go to one to two billions of dollars per box. they will tell you that not everyone know about this bond and US government will deny their authenticity because of secrecy. Only the fraudster can help you cash in the bond.

The truth about Federal Reserve Bond
U.S Treasury never issued any bond/currency at a high value during that time (1934):

The U. S. Treasury did not issue securities (bonds) in $100 million or $500 million denominations during the period alleged in this fraud.
US Treasury

The Federal Reserve has never issued any bonds or notes with coupons attached. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is not aware of any currency or debt stockpile of large denomination Federal Reserve notes from the 1930s and warns that any institution that pays out on such a claim does so at its own risk.

It should also be noted that the largest denomination of currency ever printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing was the $100,000 Series 1934 Gold Certificate featuring the portrait of President Wilson. These notes were printed from December 18, 1934, through January 9, 1935, and were issued by the Treasurer of the United States to Federal Reserve Banks only against an equal amount of gold bullion held by the Treasury Department. The notes were used only for official transactions between Federal Reserve Banks and were not circulated among the general public.

Federal Reserve Bank New York

Federal Reserve Bank District Numbers:

They're 12 US Federal Reserve Bank and each of the bank have a different district letter and district numbers printed on the notes/bond.

Boston: A; 1
Richmond: E; 5
Minneapolis: I; 9
New York City: B; 2
Atlanta: F; 6
Kansas City: J; 10
Philadelphia: C; 3
Chicago: G; 7
Dallas: K; 11
Cleveland: D; 4
St. Louis: H; 8
San Francisco: L; 12

Here are some recent US bond forgeries pictures:

Pictures by Reuters: forgery USA Bond

Please use your common sense, a bond with a high amount like that in 1934 will help you buy a country. Who in their right mind produce such bond in 1934? Who in their right mind want to share a chance to be a millionaire? Why they produce the bond 8 years before WWII started? What good use these bond to all those American soldiers, everyone are in a war, money is not important during that time. Please look at the fact and put aside what you believe before you decide to accept or not what I share in here.

Counterfeit Solomon Islands banknote warning

The Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) would like to remind the general public to properly check the security features of Solomon Islands banknotes, particularly the high value One Hundred Dollar ($100) and Fifty Dollar ($50) denominations. CBSI believes that a number of counterfeit one hundred ($100) Solomon Islands’ currency notes is currently circulating. These counterfeits were likely produced by a computer scanner or a highly sensitive color photocopier.

Key security features to look for on banknotes are:

Watermark image of the eagle and the lettering CBSI should come out clearly into view when the note is held against light;
A complete security thread is visible at the center of the notes;
A silver shining hologram next to the Solomon Islands Government Coat of Arms.

The Central Bank reminds the public to exercise extra-caution when accepting banknotes because a number of counterfeit notes are also circulating in the country. Should anyone have any knowledge or information that would assist the Bank to identify the person(s)or sources of these counterfeit notes, please inform the Police or the Currency & Banking Operations Department of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands on phone (677) 21791 or Email: info@cbsi.com.sb.

Counterfeit Coin Act 1957

"Why that bank officer take my coin away, he said it is counterfeit and don't give me the value of the coins when I change it at the bank. Can they do that?" A friend ask me when I meet him during our "teh tarik" session recently. Many people don't know in Counterfeit Coin Act 1957 (Act 429), any person who receive counterfeit coins may cut or destroy the coins. This is to prevent that coin from circulating as a genuine money in the future. Many normal people also don't know that some collectors do collect counterfeit coins. It has some value to them, especially the coins that almost identical to the original coins like Omega counterfeit coin.

The Act is very short with only 5 sections:

COUNTERFEIT COIN ACT 1957

An Act to provide for the defacement of counterfeit coins. [Peninsular Malaysia—15 August 1957; Sabah and Sarawak—23 September 1965] Short title and application 1. (1) This Act may be cited as the Counterfeit Coin Act 1957.

(2) This Act shall apply throughout Malaysia.

Interpretation

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

“counterfeit” has the meaning assigned to it by the Penal Code [Act 574];

“current coin” means any coin made by law a legal tender in Malaysia.

Coin suspected to be diminished or counterfeit may be cut by any person to whom it is tendered

3. (1) Where any coin is tendered as current coin to any person who suspects the same to be diminished otherwise than by reasonable wear or to be counterfeit, such person may cut, break, bend or deface such coin.

(2) If any coin so cut, broken, bent or defaced appears to be diminished otherwise than by reasonable wear, or to be counterfeit, the person tendering the same shall bear the loss thereof.6 Laws of Malaysia ACT 429

(3) If the same is of due weight and appears to be lawful coin, the person cutting, breaking, bending or defacing the same shall receive the same at its face value.

(4) If any dispute arises whether the coin so cut, broken, bent or defaced is diminished in manner aforesaid or counterfeit, it may be heard and finally determined in a summary manner by a Magistrate’s Court which is hereby empowered to examine upon oath as well the parties as any other person in order to the decision of the dispute.

(5) Every public officer, to whom in the performance of his duties there is tendered in payment of any part of the revenue of any Government in Malaysia or presented for inspection or otherwise any coin which appears to be a counterfeit of current coin or to have been unlawfully diminished, shall cut, break or deface or cause to be cut, broken or defaced every such coin.

Many people already knew selling counterfeit as genuine is illegal. How about selling the counterfeit coins as counterfeit? Is that illegal? What do you think?

Malaysia fake notes

A readers asked me, how to do fake malaysia ringgit? If any of you remember, in 2008 there is a news about many Malaysia Bank in Gombak make a police report about a guy who printed fake money put them in Bank cash deposit machine and withdraw it from the same bank ATM. With just cheap printer, scanner, and special liquid, he has been converting fake money with original for few months. Most Malaysian counterfeiters used a high image resolution of the RM50/RM100 notes. If you look in the net, many of these high resolutions notes pictures has been taken down. One of the webmaster has put that Bank Negara Malaysia has email him to remove Malaysia ringgit high resolution pictures from his website.

Picture: Fake malaysia ringgit found by my Facebook friend

Here is the news from Utusan (English translation):

Gombak police chief Assistant Commissioner Abdul Rahim Abdullah said the local criminal has been arrested at his rented house in Desa Jaya. As a result of inspection, the police then managed to find the suspect used a secret lab to print false money in large quantities.
"Most of the computers, scanners and printers be identified used to print banknotes for Malaysia, especially involving RM50 notes.
"The inspection also found the white paper used to produce counterfeit banknotes concerned. In addition, police also found a number of fake money estimated at more than RM14, 800, "he said.
Abdul Rahim said initial investigations revealed that the suspects would use the tactic soak RM50 ringgit real money in a special liquid before the paper has fallen into two front and rear attachments.
"He then would use the separated pure paper money to be affixed on the back or front surface ready to print fake money.
"Money is ready to put false is then dried using a hairdryer, while also using a special rolling mills," he said.
He said the fake money that has two genuine and counterfeit surface is then inserted in the machine failed to detect fraudulent deposit is one of the surface is genuine.
"Once the deposit is received the machine, the suspect will then immediately make a withdrawal via ATM machines nearby. Fraud incidents caused panic to several banks.
"No less than 15 police reports made by the bank fraud involving cunning," he said.

If you want to asked what liquid he is using to do the counterfeit notes, sorry, I will not tell anyone but that same liquid has been used to make "fake error notes". It will only work on the old RM50 notes not the new RM50 merdeka notes.

I had been sharing many news and story about counterfeit ringgit to help people understand how counterfeiters work but many readers still keep on deceived by these counterfeiters. Here are some of the news that I found for Malaysia fake notes:

They're few level of counterfeit money detection; Consumer, Banks and Authority/BNM. In consumer case, you need to feel, look and tilt the banknotes to check if they're original. The easiest one is the banknote watermark and Silver security thread. You can read more about Malaysia Banknote security features in my posts; RM100 note security features and RM50 note security features.

Please Do remember, circulating or using a counterfeits money as a real money is an offence under Malaysia Penal code. Under section 489 (b) Using as genuine forged or counterfeiting currency or banknotes, you can get Imprisonment for 20 years and fine. Under section 489 (c) Possession of forged or counterfeiting currency notes or banknotes, you can get Imprisonment for 10 years and fine.

What must you do if you found a fake Malaysia Ringgit? You can read my post here; What to do if I found fake money.

Omega counterfeit coins

Anyone of you read about Omega counterfeit coins before? Its not about Omega gold watch but an unknown counterfeiter who signed his creations with a minute Greek letter omega “Ω”. His counterfeit works are the highest quality forgeries ever produced. He is believed to have made over 20,000 fake 1907 high-relief nominally US$20 gold Double Eagle coins and his signature omega can be found in the claw of the counterfeit US$20 gold Double Eagle coins. With a genuine coins a hard thing to get, it will be little bit harder to detect omega works.

Omega images by John Roberts

His counterfeits are of such high quality that collectors will pay upwards of $1,000 for one; a genuine coin sells for about $50,000 to $100,000. Omega also counterfeited other US gold coins, including a large quantity of $3 gold pieces, dated 1874, 1878 and 1882, with the 1882 being the most prevalent. Two of his counterfeit $10 gold pieces, the 1913-P and 1926-P, have the omega placed upside down within the upper loop of the "R" of "LIBERTY" in the Indian's headdress.

For this US$20 gold Double Eagle coins, Several diagnostic characteristics may help identify that this is a forgeries coin. The maker of these pieces, signed his work with a tiny symbol “Ω” inside the eagle’s claw. Two patches of distinctive tooling marks are found on the obverse, in the hair to left of Liberty’s face and on the ray directly above the first M of the date.

Source: Wikipedia, anacs.com.

What to do if I found fake money

A reader email me and asked "What to do if I found fake money"? He said his husband come home from work one day and give her a RM100 notes. She feel a little bit weird about the money so she Google and search for the notes security features. She then found my post; RM100 note security features (You can also read RM50 note security features). When she followed all the instruction looking for the notes security features, she found out that some of the features are missing. The notes don't have micro lettering and the security thread look different. That's when she decide to email me and asked for help.

Here are some of the conversation between us:

Me: Where do you get this money?

She: My husband told me that he got this from a taxi driver who came to our shop and buy a can of coke-cola. He still remember that guy face and car plate number, not everyone give RM100 for a can of coca-cola.

She: Can I report this to Bank Negara and get my money back?

Me: You don't need to go to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) a report to police station near your place is already enough. Police will forwards your report to BNM. I don't think you will get your money back but you will help other from getting the same experience as yours.

She: What I need to bring with me?

Me: The counterfeit notes of course. Write or try to remember all the details on how you get that counterfeits notes, police need the details for your report. If you said you remember the taxi driver plate number, it will be easy for police to track the culprit.

She: Can I used the counterfeit money?

Me: circulating or using a counterfeits money as a real money is an offence under Malaysia Penal code. Under section 489 (b) Using as genuine forged or counterfeiting currency or banknotes, you can get Imprisonment for 20 years and fine. Under section 489 (c) Possession of forged or counterfeiting currency notes or banknotes, you can get Imprisonment for 10 years and fine. That mean you will be losing more if someone report you to the police and the court decide you're guilty.

She: This is only for RM100, right?

Me: Nope. This is also related to all Malaysia currency; coins and banknotes. Its free to report to the police.

You can also contact BNM directly to asked for question.

Contact Centre (BNMTELELINK)
Laman Informasi Nasihat dan Khidmat (LINK)
Bank Negara Malaysia
P.O. Box 10922
50929 Kuala Lumpur

Tel : 1-300-88-5465 (1-300-88-LINK)
(Overseas: +603-2174-1717)
Fax: +603-2174-1515
E-mail: bnmtelelink@bnm.gov.my

Fake euro banknote report 2011

Yesterday, European Central Bank release their Biannual information on euro banknote counterfeiting. In the report, only 295,553 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation for first half of 2011. It is a 18.8% decrease on the quantity recovered in the previous six months. The majority (98%) of counterfeits recovered in the first half of 2011 were found in euro area countries, with only around 1.5% being found in EU Member States outside the euro area and 0.5% being found in other parts of the world.

The €20 and €50 denominations continue to be the most counterfeited. During the past six months, the share of counterfeit €20 banknotes increased and the share of €50 banknotes decreased. The two most counterfeited denominations together accounted for 79.0% of the total during the first half of 2011. The €100 banknote is the third most counterfeited denomination, accounting for 16.0% of the total. The share of the other denominations (€5, €10, €200 and €500) is very low.

The European Central Bank (ECB) and the 17 national central banks of the euro area advise the public to remain alert with regard to the banknotes received in cash transactions. Genuine banknotes can be easily recognised using the simple “FEEL-LOOK-TILT” test described on the euro pages of the ECB’s website and the websites of the Eurosystem national central banks. In case of doubt, however, a suspect banknote should be compared directly with one that is known to be genuine. Anyone who suspects that they may have received a counterfeit should contact either the police or (where national practice allows) the relevant national central bank.

Source: European Central Bank (ECB)

Lat year, ECB report an increase of fake euro notes and decrease on fake coins. By the way, when was the last time Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) ever release their own counterfeit banknote and coin report?

Student caught using fake RM50

A form four student caught using fake RM50 to pay a school canteen operator as reported by Sinar Harian. The student was caught using a fake RM50 to pay for a plate of chicken rice worth RM1.50. The canteen owner's daughter, Noor Azlinda Abdullah, 29, said the incident took place at 10.30am during recess.

“The counterfeit note was discovered by one of my employees, as primary school students rarely use RM50 to pay for food,” she said after lodging a report at Bukit Jenun police station.

Azlinda said the incident occurred during a break at about 10.30 am when an employee, Farizal Hanapi is selling rice and aware of money received from the students involved were counterfeit.

"I suspect because students rarely use the money to buy food with RM50 notes. My workers examined the money when given by the students concerned," she said after lodging a police report at the Police Station Bukit Jenun.

Azlinda Noor said he hoped the matter was taken immediate action by school authorities and police that the incident is not repeated.

"I hope the symptoms of students using fake money is not widespread because of this incident can be detrimental to traders who are not able to identify counterfeit money," she said.

Source: Sinar Harian.

Banknote forger ordered to give cash

Father and son, John and Craig Farrell were jailed after admitting producing counterfeit cash in Scotland. John Farrell, 53, from Glasgow, was sentenced to nearly six years in jail for producing fake banknotes. The convicted forger who ran a huge counterfeiting operation from a factory in East Kilbride has been ordered to hand over nearly £100,000. A confiscation order has been made against Farrell at the High Court in Edinburgh for £96,000, the Crown Office said.

Picture: John and Craig Farrell.

Following the hearing, Lesley Thomson, area procurator fiscal for Glasgow, warned dealing in counterfeit currency was "not a victimless crime".

She said: "It can cause hardship and misery, particularly in difficult financial times.

"It is our duty to ensure that no one trying to profit from crime should succeed.

"We are determined to pursue any financial benefits gained from illegal activity."

In July 2009 Farrell was sentenced to five years and eight months for producing counterfeit notes at EWM Solutions, in East Kilbride.When police raided the premises in February 2008 they discovered counterfeit Bank of Scotland £20 notes, fake Royal Bank of Scotland £20 notes and Bank of Scotland £10 notes and Royal Bank of Scotland £10 notes in various stages of completion. In total, police unearthed £185,000 of counterfeit money. Some of the counterfeit money had been used at a number of places in Newton Mearns and Glasgow. His son Craig, who also admitted making the notes, was jailed for two years and nine months.

Source: BBC News

1934 $100,000 Dollars scam

$100,000 Dollars Banknote feature:

The $100,000 bill was released only as a Gold Certificate in the series of 1934. Woodrow Wilson's image was shown on the obverse, while its reverse contained the "100,000" denomination printed in several places in orange- or gold-colored ink.

This 100,000 Dollar Gold Certificate is the highest U. S. denomination. Only 42,000 were printed. They were used only for transactions between the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department. These notes were never issued for public circulation. When the Government stopped using them, most were destroyed. Only three are known to have survived. One is housed at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, one at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and one at the Smithsonian Institute. It's illegal for a private person to own one of these notes, and none has ever been in private hands.

Why I am saying this is a scam?

These Series 1934 gold certificates (of denominations $100, $1,000, $10,000, and $100,000) were issued after the gold standard was repealed and gold was compulsorily confiscated by order of President Franklin Roosevelt on March 9, 1933 (see United States Executive Order 6102), and thus were used only for intra-government transactions and not issued to the public. Of these, the $100,000 is an odd bill in that it was printed only as this Series 1934 gold certificate. This series was discontinued in 1940. It was issued by the Treasury Department of the US to the various Federal Reserve Banks to evidence gold deposits held at the Treasury that were equivalent to credits between the Treasury and the Banks.
If this thing is for real, why the seller sold it for a cheap price? The notes/bonds should worth at least 1 million dollars for a single note. Its a 1934 gold certificates notes.
The quality of the note look like a low quality counterfeit.
I received hundreds of email before offering me the same bonds/notes in my email. Even your email is in my spam box, automatically. I only realized about this question when you sms me about it. A Nigerian guy also called me before asking me if I want to buy cheap US notes. You can also read about 1934 $100,000 Bill scam in US Federal Reserve website:

Discovered 1930s Notes and Bonds
July 2005

The Federal Reserve is aware of several scams involving high denomination Federal Reserve notes and bonds, often in denominations of 100 million or 500 million dollars, dating back to the 1930s, usually 1934. In each of these schemes, fraudulent instruments are claimed to be part of a long-lost supply of recently discovered Federal Reserve notes or bonds.

Fraudsters often falsely claim that the purported Federal Reserve notes or bonds that they hold are somehow very special and are not known to the public because they are so secret. Fraudsters have attempted to sell these worthless instruments, or to redeem or exchange them at banks and other financial institutions, or to secure loans or obtain lines of credit using the fictitious instruments as collateral.

The Federal Reserve has never issued any bonds or notes with coupons attached. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is not aware of any currency or debt stockpile of large denomination Federal Reserve notes from the 1930s and warns that any institution that pays out on such a claim does so at its own risk.

It should also be noted that the largest denomination of currency ever printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing was the $100,000 Series 1934 Gold Certificate featuring the portrait of President Wilson. These notes were printed from December 18, 1934, through January 9, 1935, and were issued by the Treasurer of the United States to Federal Reserve Banks only against an equal amount of gold bullion held by the Treasury Department. The notes were used only for official transactions between Federal Reserve Banks and were not circulated among the general public.

Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

If the offer is too good to be true, it most probably is a scam. Hopefully you don't loose a huge amount of money buying this banknotes.

Source: Wikipedia, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

CBP Seizes Counterfeit Rare Coins

U.S. Customs and Border Protection CBP seizes counterfeit rare coins from China. CBP officers assigned to the International Mail Branch last week made an interesting discovery of a shipment of U.S. Trade Dollar coins. Suspicion was raised by the officers when they noticed an anomaly on the X-ray of a heavy package intended for a residence in Illinois. Further examination of the package revealed 361 coins that appeared to be U.S. Trade Dollar coins with dates between 1873 and 1878. The original U.S. Trade Dollar coin was minted from 1873 to 1878 and in proof form from up until 1885. Research of collector coins revealed that some of these coins can be sold for as much as $2,000.

A sample coin was turned over to CBP Laboratory and Scientific Services in Chicago for analysis. The result revealed the coins were made of brass with a thin sliver plated coating. Ironically the consignee contacted CBP inquiring about his shipment indicating he was going to sell them on a popular internet auction site. Based upon the laboratory results the shipment was seized.

“Legitimate traders are being duped into buying these coins believing they are genuine,” said David Murphy, CBP director of field operations in Chicago. “We strongly recommend buyers or any consumers to be aware and use caution when making these types of purchases on the internet.”

CBP officers and agriculture specialists are stationed at international mail facilities located throughout the country in major cities. CBP is constantly screening arriving international mail and on the lookout for any type of contraband, counterfeit or prohibited items being shipped to the U.S. which can harm the community or take advantage of the unsuspecting buyer.

I wish Malaysia Customs can do the same thing around here. More counterfeits can be seen now compare to 5 years back. Some of the coins look so real, even an expert also mistakenly display them as original.

Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Two men charged with fake notes possession

Two men charged with fake notes possession in the Sessions Court on Friday. Mobile telephone repairman Liew Yoon Thiam, 35, and construction worker Chen Choon Hong, 28, allegedly had six pieces of RM100 and five pieces of RM50 in a red envelope, knowing that they were counterfeit and had intending to use them as genuine currency. They were charged with committing the offence at Jalan 34/154, Taman Bukit Anggerik, Cheras, at 9.20pm on March 15, and under Section 489c of the Penal Code are liable to be jailed for up to 10 years upon conviction.

Photo: Fake RM50 notes.

Both men, who are not represented by counsel, was charged under Section 489 (C) of the Penal Code and read together with Section 34 of the same act can be punished with imprisonment of up to 10 years if convicted. Liew also pleaded not guilty in the same court on charges of having two pieces of counterfeit banknotes RM50 and RM10 a piece of paper in a wallet by knowing it is false and with intent to use it as genuine. He allegedly committed the offense at 9.30 pm, at the same place and date under Section 489 (C) of the Penal Code is punishable with imprisonment up to 10 years if convicted.

Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor P. Viknesvaran apply for bail of RM15, 000 with one surety for each of the accused is charged. However, Liew apply for bail money was reduced to RM5,000 on the ground, earned income does not irregular and she needs to support his girlfriend is pregnant. Chen requested that the security is reduced to RM1, 000 on the grounds he had mental problems since childhood.

Judge Datuk Liew Jagjit Singh then allowed bail of RM7, 000 with one surety for Liew and ordered Chen to be referred to a psychiatrist after he said he had a mental problem, and set May 6 for mention of the case.

Source: BERNAMA.

Feds after $7mil silver 'Liberty Dollars'

US Federal prosecutors go after $7million worth of silver 'Liberty Dollars' after its maker is convicted on counterfeit charges. Bernard von NotHaus, 67, from Indiana, was last month convicted of conspiracy and counterfeiting charges for making and selling the currency, which he touted as inflation-proof competition for the U.S. dollar. Liberty Dollars come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, and 50. The money features a dollar sign, the word "dollar" and the motto "Trust in God," similar to the "In God We Trust" that appears on U.S. coins.

Bernard Von NotHaus began issuing Liberty Dollars in 1998. In November 2007 the headquarters of his group, the National Organization for the Repeal of the Federal Reserve and Internal Revenue Code (NORFED), were raided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Secret Service, along with the Sunshine Mint in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, where the coins were made. More than five tons of Liberty Dollars and precious metals was seized from a warehouse and the Feds now want to take them by forfeiture.

After von NotHaus was convicted, U.S. Attorney Anne Tompkins said: "Attempts to undermine the legitimate currency of this country are simply a unique form of domestic terrorism."

Von NotHaus argued that it's not illegal to create currency to privately trade goods and services.

He also has said his organization took pains to say the Liberty Dollars shouldn't be called "coins" and shouldn't be presented as government-minted cash. The Liberty Dollars were a means to help keep currency in local communities by creating networks of merchants and consumers who used the money.

Von NotHaus is free on bond. If the conviction against him is upheld, he faces up to 25 years in prison and a fine of $750,000. No date has been set yet for his sentencing.

Source: Daily Mail

RCMP Counterfeit Canadian Coin Website

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) under its Federal Commercial Crime Section’s Integrated Counterfeit Enforcement Team (ICET) has recently launched a website aimed at educating the public in the detection of counterfeit Canadian coins. The website is designed to provide information on how to detect counterfeit money and how to avoid becoming a victim. The public and more specifically coin collectors can familiarize themselves with the methods of detecting counterfeit Canadian coins by reviewing the counterfeit coin examples on the RCMP website. The site will regularly be updated with digital images, specifications and identifiers for all recently identified counterfeit Canadian coins circulating in Canada and abroad.

During the past few years, Canadian Coin collectors have been noticing a substantial increase in the number of Counterfeit Canadian coins that have surfaced over the internet and at coin shows across the country. Sgt. Tony FARAHBAKHCHIAN, the RCMP Pacific Region Counterfeit Coordinator, believes that this problem is directly related to the level of sophistication used by overseas manufacturers in the production of fake coins and the ease at which they are being sold over the internet.

In 2009, it was brought to the attention of the RCMP that sellers from Asia had been selling counterfeit coins on eBay. These coins were replicas of rare Canadian coins from the turn of the century. Upon consultation with the RCMP, eBay cooperated fully with the RCMP’s request to remove all current listings from the Canada and USA sites. However, a substantial number of these counterfeits have already made their way into private collections, which is another reason it is important for people to be aware of this website. You can visit the RCMP counterfeit site for any counterfeit coin identifying tips.

Released by:
Sgt. Tony Farahbakhchian
RCMP Pacific Region Counterfeit Coordinator
E-Division Federal Commercial Crime Section
604-598-5393

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