Can you spot a fake dollar bill? You can spot a fake dollar bill using UV counterfeit lamps as well as counterfeit money pens. But not everyone has access to those tools.
As we speak, the dollar value is growing higher in many countries. For instance, In Nigeria, the aboki dollar to naira today is N880/$ with over 200% increase since the beginning of the year. As a result of this, there are possibilities of having fake dollars in circulation.
There are physical characteristics of the dollar bill that can help you identify a fake dollar bill from an authentic one—these characteristics are being used globally as security measures to help people recognize authentic money.
In this guide, I’ll be teaching you different ways to spot fake dollars.
How to know fake dollars
Do you think you have fake dollar bills in your possession? Or maybe you are about to be scammed with a fake dollar bill. You can find out if a dollar bill is authentic or fake byfollowing the tips outlined below:
Hold the bill up to a light
One of the easiest ways to spot a fake dollar bill is by holding the bill up to a light and check if the face of the individual on the bill matches the hologram produced by the light. For example, if someone alters a $5 bill to look like a $100 bill, the hologram will display the image of Abraham Lincoln instead of Benjamin Franklin.
Also, when you look at the bill through the light, it should reveal a thin vertical strip with texts Metaverse technology that spells the bill’s denomination Metaverse technology.
Colour-shifting ink
Asides from the $5 note which is not a new series bill, if you hold any bill, tilt it back and forth, then observe the numbers found at the right-hand corner; for an authentic bill, the colour shifts from green to black and back.
Watermark
Hold the dollar bill to a light in order to view the watermark to the right of the portrait in an unprinted space. The watermark can be seen from both sides of the bill since it wasn’t printed on the bill rather it’s imbedded in the paper.
Security thread
Hold the bill up to a light to enable you view the security bill properly. You should see a thin embedded strip that runs from the top to the bottom on the face of the bill.
For $10 and $50 bill, you will find the security strip to the right of the portrait or image and for the $5, $20, and $100 dollar bill, the security thread is located Complete Sports to the left of the portrait.
The security thread is bright blue and it’s also known as a 3D security ribbon or strip.
Ultraviolet Glow
If you have access to an ultraviolet lamp, you can identify an authentic bill by holding the bill up to the ultraviolet light. An authentic $5 bill has a blue glow, $10 bill has an orange glow, $20 dollar bill has a green glow, $50 dollar bill has a yellow glow, and $100 has a red glow.
Microprinting
There are tiny microprinting on the security threads of the dollar bills. The $5 bill has “USA FIVE,” $10 bill has “USA TEN,”$20 bill has “USA TWENTY,” $50 bill has “USA 50,” and the $100 bill has “USA 100” written on the security thread.
Microprintingisn’t only found on the security thread, they can also be found on the portrait as well.
Fine line printing patterns
To make the dollar bill harder to reproduce, very fine lines have been addedon the reverse side scene and behind the portrait or image. Check for those very fine lines.
Comparison
Compare the feel and texture of the suspected fake dollar bill with an authentic bill.
Weight and size
The weight of each dollar bill is one gram (1 g).It’s 6.14 inches (6.14″) in length and it’s 2.61 (2.61″) inches wide.
