BNM response on fake Rm100 banknotes

Recently, a pictures of counterfeit RM100 has been spreading in social network (Facebook & Whatsapp), warning people that the counterfeit RM100 with serial number ending with 996 has been circulating around. Today, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) via their official Facebook has released a statement about the counterfeit RM100.

Here are the official statement by Bank Negara Malaysia:

Bank Negara Malaysia (the Bank) is aware of several messages on RM100 counterfeit banknotes being circulated in the social media. The Bank is working closely with the Royal Malaysian Police to investigate the matter. These are isolated cases as the number of counterfeit banknotes in Malaysia remains low.

Generally the counterfeit banknotes were found to be produced in low quality, printed using ordinary colour printers and are easily distinguished from genuine banknotes by using the sense of touch and sight. As such, the public should be able to easily identify any counterfeit banknotes.

Malaysian banknotes incorporate the latest security features that are difficult to counterfeit. Members of the public are advised to be vigilant when handling banknotes by applying the “Feel, Look, Tilt & Check” guide as follows:

Feel the paper quality and raised print on genuine banknotes

~Paper banknotes are textured and polymer banknotes are made of special plastic.

~Both paper and polymer banknotes have raised print effect on the portrait of the first SPB Yang di-Pertuan Agong and texts.

Look at the banknote under white light background and observe the following features:

~3-dimensional portrait watermark, perfect see through register and clear window will be visible.

~Continuous line of security thread will be visible.

Tilt the banknotes to inspect the colour change on the hologram stripe and security thread
~Security thread that change colour.
~Thread with ‘Hibiscus Flower’ icon on RM100 banknote that move when tilted.

Check the banknotes using simple equipment to inspect the following:
~the micro text lettering through magnifying glass; and
~the 2-colour fluorescent element, text and logo and security fiber colour (red, yellow and blue) under Ultra Violet (UV) light.

Members of the public are required to lodge a police report immediately if they have received any banknotes suspected to be counterfeit.

To know more about the features of Malaysian banknotes, the public are encouraged to download the Bank’s My Ringgit Mobile App from Apple Store and/or Google Play Store. The App provides an interactive guide to the security features of the Malaysian currency. It also includes general advice, quality standards for the Malaysian currency and other related information.

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BNM investigating counterfeit RM100 notes

Bank Negara Malaysia is working closely with police in investigating counterfeit RM100 notes.

This is following messages circulated in social media warning people to be aware of fake RM100 notes that have serial numbers ending with 996.

The central bank said it was aware of the messages.

“These are isolated cases as the number of counterfeit banknotes in Malaysia remains low.

“Our investigation showed that, generally, the counterfeit banknotes were found to be produced in low quality, printed using ordinary colour printers and are easily distinguished from genuine banknotes by using the sense of touch and sight.

“As such, the public should be able to easily identify any counterfeit banknotes,” Bank Negara said in a statement yesterday.

It said Malaysian notes have the latest security features, making them difficult to forge.

However, it advised the public to remain vigilant when handling currency notes using the “Feel, Look, Tilt and Check” guide; How to check fake new 100 Ringgit.

This includes feeling the paper quality and raised print on genuine notes.

“Paper banknotes are textured and polymer banknotes are made of special plastic. Both paper and polymer banknotes have raised print effects on the portrait of the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong and texts,” said the bank.

It also said consumers could look at the note under a white-light background and observe that the 3D portrait watermark, perfect see-through register and clear window, and the continuous line of security thread are visible.

The public can also tilt the note to inspect the colour change on the hologram strip and security thread.

One can also check the notes using simple equipment like a magnifying glass to inspect the micro text lettering; and the dual-colour fluorescent element, text and logo, and security fibre colour (red, yellow and blue) under ultraviolet light.

“Members of the public are required to lodge a police report immediately if they have received any banknotes suspected to be counterfeit,” said the bank.

The public can also download the bank’s My Ringgit Mobile App from Apple Store and Google Play Store to know more about Malaysian currency notes.

Source: The Star

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Fake coin with fake NGC holder

Recently, a news about fake coin with fake NGC holder has been spread. The 2005-dated quarter-ounce South African Krugerrand labeled NGC Proof 70 counterfeit coin housed in a counterfeit Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) holder that has the same certification number on the label as a genuine 2005 PF 70 one-quarter ounce Krugerrand listed in the NGC.

Prominent rare coin dealer and collector Dwight Manley, owner of Fullerton Coins & Stamps in Fullerton, California and Managing Partner of the California Gold Marketing Group, who assisted a quarter-century ago in breaking up a counterfeit coin and counterfeit holder scheme, has issued the following statement.

“A frighteningly deceptive counterfeit has been encountered, and the world needs to be told about it. We recently realized that a 2005-dated quarter-ounce South African Krugerrand labeled NGC Proof 70 is not only a counterfeit coin, it is housed in a counterfeit Numismatic Guaranty Corporation holder that has the same certification number on the label as a genuine 2005 PF 70 one-quarter ounce Krugerrand listed in the NGC data base.”

“The fake was purchased on October 23, 2015 by a knowledgeable employee of Fullerton Coins & Stamps over the counter from a semi-regular customer. Before making the purchase, the employee checked the NGC website to see if the certification number and coin description matched. They did: cert number 3676849-006.”

“I recently examined the coin, and it just didn’t look quite right. I did a side-by-side, inch-by-inch comparison between the encapsulated coin the store purchased and the obverse and reverse photos on the NGC website. The reproduction of the NGC hologram on the fake (right photo) is almost dead on the same; however, there is one distinct difference between fake and genuine on the left side of the front insert label. On the fake coin, the circle in the NGC logo (an encircled balance scale) goes almost entirely around the P in the grade PF 70. On the genuine coin’s label (left photo), the P is outside the logo circle.”

“An amazing amount of effort obviously went into creating a fake coin and a fake holder with a cert number and description that match a genuine coin. I’ve notified NGC, but in the meantime, I caution collectors and dealers to watch out for any similar, deceitful and dangerous counterfeits.”

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Counterfeit banknote factories raided in China

A total face value of more than 210 million yuan (US$33.07 million) counterfeit banknotes confiscated by Police officers in Huizhou in South China's Guangdong province. Two counterfeit banknote factories in Huizhou and in other five Guangdong cities and Sichuan province has been raided on early morning of Sept 17.

Huang Shouying, director of economic crime investigation bureau under Guangdong provincial department of public security, recalled busting the biggest fake banknote production case in the Chinese mainland since 1949 on Thursday.

During the raid, workers were busy testing and mixing printing inks while two production lines were running at full speed.

They were equipped with walkie-talkie but were caught unaware when police suddenly broke in.

This is what police officers saw when they raided a major secret counterfeiting banknote site hidden in a metal and plastic factory in Boluo county of Huizhou in eastern part of Guangdong province.

The small workshop, which was installed with sound insulating equipment, stretched over 60 square meters. A small door about 130 centimeters high and less than 1 meter wide was found behind filing cabinets in an office of the factory.

A total of 29 suspects, including the gang leaders, have been detained and four printing machines, many films and related equipment and semi-finished products have been seized after the raids on the two counterfeiting bases in Huizhou.

Huang said the crackdown has dealt a heavy blow to the banknote counterfeiting operation in Guangdong province which borders Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.

Gao Weidong, deputy director of Huizhou city bureau of public security bureau, said more than 400 police officers took part in the special operation in Huizhou on Sept 17 and one officer was injured during the raid.

Source: China Daily

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1,326 of "supernotes" seized by Police

A total of 1,326 fake bank notes were seized, including currencies of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Korea, Brazil, Turkey, Papua New Guinea and China. Five men who are in the middle of discussing the price of the counterfeit money was arrested by the police in Lorong Haji Hussein, Chow Kit at about 7pm last Saturday.

Dang Wangi police chief Asst Comm Zainol Samah said the suspects, aged between 37 and 55, had parked their vehicles by the roadside before displaying samples of the counterfeit cash.

"Two of the suspects are real estate agents while the other two acted as middle men," he told a press conference on Tuesday.

"The mastermind, an Indonesian national aged 47, and his middle men had just arrived there with a bag containing the 'cash'. They appeared suspicious when a team of policemen patrolled the area. That prompted us to check on them."

"1,326 pieces of "supernotes" were brought in by the mastermind. The notes look really identical to the real ones. That's why we call them 'supernotes'," he added.

"Even the smell is similar to genuine money. The value of the items is still being evaluated."

"The suspect has entered the country 17 times for various reasons and the last time was on June 17 before he was arrested," he said, adding that the suspect had legally entered by social pass.

Zainol said both buyers were brothers, aged 38 and 45 years and were real estate agents.

He said police believed that the suspect was here to find buyers and display some samples, before returning with a larger quantity of the fake money. The suspects are being remanded to facilitate investigations.

Source: Bernama

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RM1 CR Ali Abul Uncut 3 in 1 in eBay

Have you seen a RM1 Ali Abul Hassan CR prefix Uncut 3 in 1 with a side sign not a regular signature on the banknote center? The banknote look very special, right? If this kind of notes goes to a wrong hand, I am sure it will bring a very lucrative income to them.

A few weeks ago, few of my Facebook friends are sharing a link to this item, RM1 CR Ali Abul Uncut 3 in 1 selling in eBay. The seller is from Israel and he is selling many replica banknotes including Malaysia banknotes. If you're looking at all his item posts, he already wrote:

“Very good condition! NOT REAL BANKNOTE!!!!!! REPLICA!!!!!! (see eBay policy for replica)”

He also wrote "REPLICA!!!!!!!! REPRODUCTION!!!!!" in the item description.

What is eBay policy for Replica Currency?

Listings for replica paper money (color, and black and white) must follow these guidelines:

• Items are one-sided

• Items are less than 75% or greater than 150% of the size of the genuine item.

• Listings include an image of the actual paper currency being sold. Listings with stock photos or images that are dark, out of focus, edited, or misleading aren't allowed.

• Listings must clearly state that the item is a "reproduction," "replica," or "copy" in both the title and description.

• Copies of currently commercially exchangeable notes are not allowed.

• Altered notes intended to deceive a collector (whether the present seller made the alteration or not) are not allowed.

Source: Stamps, currency, and coins policy

I am not sure if the currency that he offer is a one-sided but from one of the rating, I do think it is double sided replica paper money.

Vende fotocopias impresas por una impresora de casa...no lo aconsejo!
translation: He sold copies printed by a printer at home ... I do not advise!

At first, I thought the seller is selling a counterfeit work by the Chinese national, Peng Daxiang from Shantou, Guangdong. He only need his hand to make a banknote plates.

After reading the negative comments by one of his buyer, I understand that the replica banknotes sold by him is just a Do It Yourself printer version which can be done by anyone at home.

In a laymen terms, it is a cheap fake banknotes.

By the way, almost all the fake Malaysia banknote that he promote are non legal tender anymore. Except for the RM1 Ali Abul Hassan CR prefix, still legal tender for RM1.

Will any Bank Negara Malaysia officers do anything with this kind of act by a person in a country that we don't have any international relationship?

Please don't ask me, I am just a normal blogger.

Maybe, I need your help to make this thing go viral, so they can read this. If they will take action.

As what happened with Malaysia Gold Foil Banknote before. Which is no one has been taken to court (maybe I don't read the news about it) and many people still selling their fake copy in Facebook.

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8,000 fake €2 coins seized by Spanish police

The Local news has reported that 8,000 fake €2 coins seized by Spanish police in Madrid, Spain and Spanish police arrested three people on Tuesday for allegedly producing up to 12,000 fake €2 coins a month then using them in Madrid's public transport ticket machines.

Three home workshops have been discovered by Spanish police in Madrid while the three people responsible for forging thousands of euros worth of €2 coins have been taken into custody.

They made the forgeries using everyday equipment like bottles of gas usually used in camping, precision drills and saws.

From their home workshops they had a capability to produce 12,000 fake coins a month over a period of five years, police said in a statement released on Tuesday.

During the search of the home workshops, police found 8,000 forged coins as well as 400 which were in the process of being made. They also seized moulds used in the making of the coins along with various other tools.

The coins were used in public transport ticket machines and went undetected thanks to their relatively high technical standard. The forgers used the fake coins in ticket machines in different locations around the city and never at the same time to avoid detection.

The three suspects are no stranger to forgeries, already having criminal records for forging 500 peseta coins before the introduction of euro coins and notes in Spain on January 1st 2002.

Source: The Local

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Counterfeiters make perfect euro coins

Apparently, not only Malaysia rare coins are being counterfeit by Chinese forgers, a bi-metalic coins such as the £2 and euro are also under threat from China-based forgers. The quality of the coins suggested that the gang is producing imitations of near perfect £2 and euro coins.

One forgery investigator told The Times: “Counterfeit coins are not of great interest to most jurisdictions, and certainly not on any list of priorities.”

“Many types of counterfeit goods follow this route, China to Italy for further distribution, and it seems an entirely feasible enterprise.”

A spokesman for the Royal Mint stressed that forgeries of £2 coins are not yet though to be commonplace.

"A bi-colour coin is much harder to counterfeit because replicating the two metal components, the inner and outer, is significantly more difficult than a single component coin. Forgers would also require a highly sophisticated press to produce bi-colour coins," said the spokesman.

"The coin detector mechanism of vending machines and self-service check-outs can detect the two different metal components, in addition to the conductivity, thickness and diameter of the coin."

"The addition of edge lettering is also very hard to counterfeit, and some circulating £2 coin designs also include a latent feature in their elements which is difficult to replicate."

The recent report about the major seizure of €556,000 fake euro coins in Italy has raised fears that Britain's £2 could be in the forger's sights.

According to Palermo prosecutor Calogero Ferrara, The 2-euro coins are "a perfect product" that cannot be distinguished from an authentic coin with the naked eye. The 2-euro coins would even have worked in vending machines, he said, adding that the investigation is continuing. police arrested 12 people, including four Chinese nationals, for conspiracy to produce and distribute counterfeit money.

Source: The Telegraph

The recent rumour about fake 10 sen 1971 in the market might be really happening and more high value Malaysia coins will be the next target by the culprit until those concerned take action against them. I can only advise to all, please beware with seller who sell their coins at a very low prices.

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€556000 fake euro coins seized by Italian police

Palermo prosecutor Calogero Ferrara, who led the so-called "Shanghai Money" investigation, told reporters that Italian police on Friday seized €556,000 of fake euro coins, the largest such seizure in the history of Europe's common currency, which began circulating in 2002.

Carabinieri paramilitary police arrested 12 people, including four Chinese nationals, for conspiracy to produce and distribute counterfeit money, investigators said.

"They were high-quality fakes produced at a clandestine Chinese mint and ready to be put on the Italian market just before the Christmas spending rush," read the arrest warrant seen by Reuters.

The 306 000 coins were in 1- and 2-euro denominations, according to Ferrara.

The 2-euro coins are "a perfect product" that cannot be distinguished from an authentic coin with the naked eye, Ferrara said. The 2-euro coins would even have worked in vending machines, he said, adding that the investigation is continuing.

Italy, and especially the area around Naples, is a hotbed for euro counterfeiting, but this is the first time that authorities said they had discovered fake euros made in China and shipped to the euro zone.

Italy's top counterfeit investigator in Naples, Gerardo Marinelli, said in September that half of all fake bills in the 18-country euro zone come from the Naples area, according to estimates based on previously sequestered banknotes.

But counterfeits remain only a small fraction of currency circulating in the euro zone, the European Central Bank says.

In September, Italian finance police arrested a man who concealed a haul of forged €50 banknotes equivalent to €17m in a van outside a shopping centre near Naples.

Source: Reuters

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Fake Johor Sultanate coins openly sold in Facebook

​Yesterday, I saw a few of my numismatic friends on Facebook arguing with a coin seller who sold Fake Johor Sultanate coins openly in Facebook. Most of the Malay Sultanate Coins collectors already knew the fraud committed by the seller but new collectors may be easily fooled by old coins advertisement by the fraud seller. Rumor has it that news of "The Lost Treasure of Johor" reported by The Star December last year is also done by the same gang.

A Facebook friend, using a pseudonym "Muzium Matawang Nusantara" shared 2 photos of Malay Sultanate Coins offered by the seller. In that posts, the seller selling a complete gold coins set of Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah III for RM5,000 and Sultan Mahmud Shah for RM8,000. "Muzium Matawang Nusantara" also told me that the seller has claimed that a Johor government agency has purchased his Malay Sultanate Coins and an old cannon for RM47,000. It is such a waste if that story really happened. Imagine what happens to the next generation when we display the fake coins in a museum, our young generation might be thinking that the fake coins are real because it exhibited in museums. When I investigated further, the seller also attach a letter showing that he were given a contract to supply an artifact for museum and a letter showing he asked permission from Sultan of Johor to wrote a book about Johor Sultanates coins? A fake coin seller doing that? For real? 

Looking at some of their arguments in Facebook regarding the fake Malay Sultanate gold coins, I attach a couple of reasons wrote by a Facebook user with pseudonym "Pera'i Sejarah", a friend of "Muzium Matawang Nusantara":

1. Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah II coins sold by the seller used the same die and the coin look identical.

2. A reverse of Sultan Mahmud Shah II (1685-1699) gold coins and Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah III (1623-1677) gold coins used the same die with almost 99% identical design. A different era of Johor Sultan use same die for their gold coins?

3. Even though the counterfeiters cut the edges of the counterfeit currency to create different dimensions of the currency, the die is still look the same.

4. The seller also have plenty of the Mas, Kupang and other Johor Sultanate coins, most of the time, the seller offer a complete set of coins.

According to "Pera'i Sejarah", Johor Sultanate coins are unique currency, it have Dot, decorative circle and the inscription are pretty well written. Founding a same pieces of 99% identical 400 years old coins in a huge amount does not make sense though not impossible. He is using the same die to cut cost and to maximize his profit.

Sifu Dickson Niew in his blog Fakesilvercoin.com wrote, to detect fake coins you need to look at 3 basic things:

1. Grading-too good to be true
2. Price-too cheap to be true
3. Quantity-too many to be true

The sellers advertisement shows that it not passed all the criteria suggested by Sifu Dickson.

In numismatics, the results of laboratory tests for the coins metal is not the only way to check for original coins. We must look at other possibilities and criteria that can guide us about the coins authenticity. When someone is offering a very rare old coins with a very cheap price and you can choose the specific coins since the seller have a huge quantity in his possession, the authenticity of the coins are doubtful. Why? Please use your common sense and please put aside your greed. When you can suddenly see a very hard to find 400 years old coins in a large quantities, isn't it a miracle? Miracle usually does not happen in the real world, it only happens in the world of fantasy.

Department of Museums Malaysia (Jabatan Muzium) and Johor Heritage Foundation (Yayasan Warisan Johor) should working together to curb this problem. The seller and counterfeiters of Malay Sultanate coins should be subject to legal action starting from now if we want to protect our heritage.

Under National Heritage Act 2005, some of the Malay Sultanate Coins has been registered under Tangible Heritage Object (Objek Warisan Ketara):

1. Duit Emas Sultan Muzaffar Shah (1564 – 1570) , Johor.
2. Duit Kijang Emas
3. Duit Emas Sultan Alau’uddin Riayat Shah I (1527/28 –1564), Johor.
4. Duit Emas Sultan Zainal Abidin II (1793-1808) Terengganu

but I am not sure if someone who make fake Sultanate coins can be brought to court for making fake coins under the act. If there is no law in Malaysia that can take action on these fraudster, Department of National Heritage (Jabatan Warisan Negara) should find a way to make sure action can be taken. The fraudster can freely active selling fake old coins because there is no action done by government agencies who where trusted to take care of our national heritage before or we don't read any news about it? If the seller claim he supply for the museum is true, I think they're many way for the government to charge him. SPRM can also involve because it is involve stealing government money.

What would happen if Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Ismail knew that his ancestors coins imitated by his own people for profits and fraud?

If any of you my readers who knew the head of any related agencies, please help us to spread these news to them. We don't know which is the proper channels to make complaints about people who forged our nation's heritage. We just want to make sure that the country's rich heritage preserved.

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Police raid counterfeit coin lab

Police has dismantled an underground laboratory being used for forging a counterfeit coins following a raid on a house in the Sabana Perdida neighborhood of Santo Domingo North, Dominican Republic. The lab forging 25 peso coins using 3 machines.

During the operation, which was carried out in coordination with the legal authorities, a man named as Ramón Calderón Santos, 32, was detained for questioning.

According to the police report, three machines used for manufacturing false 25 peso coins were seized during the operation, along with two engines, a drying oven and dozens of coins ready for processing.

“The raid at said address took place following complaints from traders, drivers and motorcycle taxi drivers, with warrant number 18091-ME-2014, dated 14-08-2014, issued by a competent court” says the report.

In recent weeks traders and motorbike taxi divers in the area of La Caleta, Boca Chica have complained of being cheated by customers paying them for products and services with fake 25 peso coins.

Source: Dominican Today

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Romanian found oldest forged coins in history

A Romanian and his son finds what could be oldest forged coins in history worth £120,000 near the site of a medieval village in northern Romania using a metal detector. Paul Croituru and 13-year-old son Alexandru dig up 300 ancient Greek coins and immediately told the authorities. They will now lose nearly all of the money because of local treasure hunting rules.

Despite being forgeries of the 2,350-year-old Tetradrachm currency, experts say each 5mm penny is worth £400. The haul of 309 whole coins and 40 fragments is worth around £120,000, according to currency experts. They are believed to be the oldest counterfeit coins ever found, and were produced just 400 years after the first ever coins were made.

Mr Croituru said: "It is still more than I earn in a year from my job but I have never done this for money. There are those in the area that say I was foolish not to have kept the lot, and could easily have sold them abroad with nobody any the wiser."

"But my son would have known, and what sort of an example is that for a boy to get from his father? I don't have any regrets. I thought to be an example for my son. He is passionate about history."

Mr Croituru said they were using an old metal detector that was worth around £120 when he bought it, but is now considering an upgrade.

"If I get something, I'll buy a new metal detector," he added.

The Croiturus found the silver coins in a 25 metres squared area of the Partestii de Sus region of northern Romania, near the site of a long-abandoned medieval village. The coins, which weigh 1.5kg altogether, were buried at depths between two inches and two feet. Experts believe they are forgeries of the ancient Greek Tetradrachm currency and could be around 2,350 years old, dating back to when King Philip II reigned over the then Ancient Greek Kingdom of Macedon. Most of the coins show a Greek solider on horseback on one side and a face on the other.

Local historian Viorel Blanaru said: "They are made of raw silver, quite good workmanship, quite good copies but that's what they are - copies of Greek coins."

However, in ancient times it was the quality of the silver that was important, and he said that exchanging parts of coins was an way of giving change.

He said: "If you had something that cost half a penny, and you only had a penny, you simply cut it in half which would explain why there were also fragments."

The coins will be restored and taken to Suceava History Museum in north-eastern Romania, where they will be put on display.

Mr Croituru said: "We have never found anything much before. The odd coin - but mostly just bullet cases, old tins or rusty nails. It can be a bit disheartening but it was fun to spend time together and of course dream we would one day find something."

But in the latest expedition, that was exactly what happened when the father and son team heard a huge bleep and began digging out an astonishing haul of coins.

"We found one, then another, then another, then a pile of them. We couldn't believe it. We were pulling them up in handfuls, It is every treasure hunter's dream." he said.

Source: Daily Mail

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Counterfeit US dollar detector by Matsumura Engineering Co

A Japanese company, Matsumura Engineering Co., claimed that their new counterfeit U.S. dollar detector EXC-5700A can detect the latest generation of counterfeit U.S. hundred dollar bills.

Using ultraviolet and infrared rays as well as magnetic field sensors, Yoshihide Matsumura’s said they are targeting the fake U.S. bills that are popping up in countries from South America to Asia and the Middle East.

Matsumura calls the new counterfeits “Super S,” which stands for “super special”. They’re a forgery of the Series 1996-2003A $100 note that features an image of Benjamin Franklin. The Series 2009A $100 notes introduced in October 2013 have a 3-D security ribbon making them more difficult to fake.

“Humans can't identify the new counterfeit bills and most of the detectors used in financial institutions are useless against them” says Matsumura. “The paper and ink used for the counterfeit bill are almost the same as genuine ones.”

Matsumura, who also works as a counterfeit advisor for law-enforcement agencies in Japan and the U.S., first detected the new counterfeits last fall. He coined the term for a previous generation of counterfeits known as “Super K” – they likely originated in North Korea.

The latest “Super S” counterfeit has been detected in more than eleven countries including Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Brazil, according to Matsumura.

According to a study listed in the Federal Reserve’s website, at the end of 2011, roughly 62 percent of U.S. hundred dollar bills were in circulation outside the United States. And be warned – the U.S. Secret Service says that if caught and successfully prosecuted, counterfeiters can be fined and imprisoned for up to 15 years.

Source: Bloomberg

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Malaysian caught in Thailand with fake US dollars

Yesterday, Bangkok Post reported about a Malaysian caught in Thai with fake US dollars.

Thai woman Natasha Shukri, 44, and Malaysian national Zainubin bin Shukri, 53, were caught outside an office building in Soi Sukhumvit 63 at 8pm Wednesday after police found 51 fake US banknotes, each worth about 3,300 baht, in their possession.

Warawut Taweechaikarn, commander of the Investigation Division of the Immigration Bureau, said on Thursday a group of immigration police officers were patrolling the area and observed the suspects acting suspiciously and asked to search them.

A banknote expert from Kasikorn Bank and an official from the United States embassy, who were invited to inspect the confiscated US greenbacks, confirmed the notes were forged.

The suspects were charged with possession of counterfeit money with intent to distribute, Pol Maj Gen Warawut said.

Source: Bangkok Post

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Fake coins in the news

This week, they're many news relating to coins and Malaysia old currency reported by The Star, Nanyang Siang Pau and Sin Chew Daily. Sadly, almost all the news used fake coins in their article. Look like they don't listen when I already told them to make a research first before they release their article about coins in 2012; Reporter-Please Do Research First.

The Lost Treasure of Johor reported by The Star tell a story about artefacts and treasures from Johor that are sold at lucrative prices in a thriving black market trade. They continued with another report the next day about The Heritage Act 2005 and how lack of officials from the National Heritage Department is one of the main reason for not enforcing the Heritage Act. They also share finder keepers policy does not apply especially to treasure that were found after 2005.

The next day, Nanyang Siang Pau, one of Malaysia Chinese Daily also released an article about Johor Numismatic Treasure that are sold online. In the report they said that some of the tin animal currency are sold at least USD$59.90 and some can goes to USD$1,374 depend on the item. For a set of 6 gold coin of Johor Sultan Ala'uddin Riayat Shah I, Sultan Abdul Jalil Riayat Shah II, Sultan Abdullah Ma'ayat Shah, Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah III, Sultan Mahmud Shah II and Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah the asking price is USD$9,800. Source: Nanyang.

Sadly, all the tin currency shown in the articles are fakes or just a replica. The information is given to me by several sifu's who are expert in tin coins. Some of the tin coins in the article doesn't exist in our history. Many people don't know that fake tin currency has been exist for so long. Until today, our numismatic friends from other country who visit Melaka Museum are laughing at what has been displayed in the museum tin animal currency section. It is a shame that the rare currency are used in our country but we ourselves cannot recognize a replica tin animal coins in our own museum.

If you cannot find an expert in tin animal currency, you can always goes to Sasana Kijang Bank Negara. In the animal currency section, you can make reference to almost all the tin animal currency that had been used in Malaya.

If Sasana Kijang is far away from you reporter, you can always find a copy of Saran Singh book, The Encyclopedia of the coins of Malaysia Singapore & Brunei 1400-1967 in library or any coin dealer near you. In this book you can find information about Perak animal currency.

You can also see some of the tin animal currency pictures from Sasana Kijang collection in my Facebook page; Galeri Numismatik.

To make matter worst, the news in Nanyang Siang Pau also show a certificate from Maritime Archaeology Museum for a fish animal tin money circa 15th Century with a description about it in hand writing. Looking at the fish tin coin, I think everyone in Malaysia Numismatic community can guess where are this certificate came from.

Sin Chew Daily on 12 December 2013 reported about a 189 years of British coins. Sadly, the article is showing a Straits Settlement 3 quarters cent Queen Victoria coin. The coin is a replica coin since Straits Settlements Queen Victoria coins only start from 1845. I think the reporter who wrote the article should know that since she already read information in Wikipedia about Straits Settlements that only established in 1826. Source: Sin Chew.

Normal people don't care if the news give a wrong pictures about our own currency since they don't have any knowledge about them but to us collectors, it is a shame that Malaysian who should learn about their culture & heritage were giving a false information in the local news.

I don't think any reporter will be listening since the most important thing in Malaysian Journalism nowadays is news that can sell thousands copies of their newspaper, reporting a wrong story is not their concern.

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3 Suspects Printed Fake RM100 detained

On 28 October 2013, 3 Suspects Printed Fake RM100 detained by Besut police at Kampung Nangka, Kuala Besut. The three suspects, aged between 19 and 28, believed to have been involved in printing false RM100 currency notes and drug trafficking.

Besut police chief, Supt Kamaruddin Mohd Zakaria said police seized 40 Metamphetamine pills, 181 pieces of A4 size printed 'RM100' notes (both sides) using false serial numbers, 26 pieces of A4 size 'RM100' printed on the front side only, three pieces 'RM100' A4 size printed notes (reverse side only) and two pieces 'RM100' notes that have already been cut into shape.

They were detained by a team from the Narcotics and Commercial Crime divisions.

"Acting on information from the public a police team raided a house in Kampung Nangka here after carry out surveillance work," he told reporters, here, today.

The raid was initially a raid involving drug trafficking but police stumbled upon the syndicate printing false currency notes, he said.

Kamaruddin said a paper cutting machine, a Canon printer, two notebooks (Haier and Acer brand) and a Dell computer were also seized from the trio.

"The three suspects comprised two men who were unemployed and a woman who runs a food stall. Her husband is a mechanic from Bandar Baharu, Kedah," he said.

Both the male suspects tested positive for drugs.

Source: Bernama

To learn how you can detect a fake or counterfeit RM100, you can read about it in my post; How to check RM100 palsu.

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