In 2011, a total of 827 counterfeits were detected among euro banknotes in circulation in Finland. This number was down slightly from the numbers detected in the previous year, as shown in the statistics below:
| Year | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of counterfeits | 527 | 709 | 861 | 1,052 | 827 |
The EUR 20 note was the most frequently detected counterfeit banknote (285 counterfeits) in 2011, followed by EUR 100 and EUR 50 notes. These three middle-denomination banknotes together accounted for 83% of the total number of counterfeits.
A number of security features have been incorporated into euro banknotes for authentication purposes. Banknote authenticity can be checked by using the simple feel-look-tilt test described in the Eurosystem’s publications. In case of doubt, a suspect banknote should be compared directly with one that is known to be genuine. Instructions and guides for checking banknote authenticity can be found on the Bank of Finland website (www.bof.fi).
In a press release issued today (www.ecb.europa.eu) the European Central Bank provides an overview of the counterfeit situation regarding euro banknotes.
For further information about the situation in Finland, please contact Jussi Kangas, Banknote Specialist at the Bank of Finland, tel. +358 10 831 3481, or Jari-Pekka Pere, Detective Sergeant, National Bureau of Investigation, tel. +358 71 878 6475.