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| Tracking
Counterfeit |
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Counterfeit money has always been a nuisance
and a problem worldwide. Criminals in charge of organizations that
produce counterfeit money use home computers and printing yards
to produce very real looking, convincing counterfeit copies of currency.
Select one of the following headings for more:
--> The
currency
--> Note
creation
--> Tracking
the forger
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| The
Currency |
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| All currencies are vulnerable
and subject to currency forgery, but the most susceptible are the
currencies that circulate around the world and are able to be used
globally. This makes the US dollar the most commonly and easily reproduced
currency, and unfortunately, currencies that are easily reproduced
tend to attract the most illegal counterfeiters. |
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| Note
Creation |
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| In the past, notes have
been created using intricate imprinted designing techniques and featured
difficult to replicate watermarks,
a design imprinted into the note and only visible when a light is
shone on it. They also had specific numbering patterns and fine metal
threads imbedded in the note. However, it became easier for counterfeiters
to forge currencies towards the end of the 1980's as higher quality
colour photocopiers and printers made copies look extremely convincing.
Today's bank notes have new improved aspects to stop the forgery of
currency. These include words that only appear when the note is heated
by a copier lamp, colour-changing ink that turns from green to black
when the note is turned over, print that is only visible when viewed
through a magnifying glass, machine readable only bar codes, shimmering
ink, and holograms. |
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| Tracking
The Forger |
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| Finding the currency
forger involves combining clues found in the paper type, printing
techniques and the ink variety used. Paper banknotes are now printed
on material that is of a high quality and is economically impossible
to mass reproduce. Microscopes are used to recognise substituted paper
forms and using this information, investigators may then be able to
find the supplier. UV
lights can show the metal security threads in true banknotes
and reveal attempts to fake them in fake notes. X-rays show watermarks
and make them clearer. The printing process can also reveal the counterfeiter,
as they usually use laser and inkjet printers that are easily distinguishable
against the extremely high quality methods used on authentic banknotes.
Chemically analysing the ink can be traced back to the counterfeiters
using a computer database that matches the ink's characteristics. |
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