Counterfeit and Altered Money Found in the Czech Republic in 2003
The occurrence of counterfeits in the Czech Republic was higher in 2003 than in previous years.
A total of 10,829 counterfeits of all currencies and denominations - worth
CZK 17,920,729 - were seized.
In all, 7,301 counterfeits were taken from circulation. The police seized 3,528 counterfeits, 2,037 more than in 2002.
The number of counterfeit euros increased from 289 found in 2002 to 503 in 2003.
By contrast, there were decreases in the number of counterfeits of the former national currencies of the euro-area countries and the number of counterfeit dollars.
It is impossible to tell from the 2003 figures whether we are seeing a change in trend or just an irregularity in the long-term time series. However, we expect the number of counterfeit euro banknotes and coins to rise further.
Counterfeit and Altered Czech Banknotes and Coins
In all,
8,965 counterfeit and altered Czech banknotes and coins - worth a total of
CZK
13,405,951 - were seized in 2003. Of these, 7,366 were counterfeit notes, 63 were
counterfeit coins and 1,536 were altered notes and coins.
Most frequently seized were counterfeit notes of the CZK 100 denomination. By contrast, the number of counterfeit CZK 1,000 and CZK 500 notes decreased. Slight growth was recorded for the CZK 50, CZK 200 and CZK 2,000 notes.
Most of the counterfeit CZK 5,000 notes (1,703) were seized by the police in January 2003. Of the total of 2,195 seized counterfeits of this denomination, 326 were the "old" 1993 version. In July 2003, a total of 142 counterfeits of this old version were also seized in a police operation.
In 2003, the numbers of counterfeit CZK 200, CZK 100 and CZK 50 notes were up by 35, 2,499 and 150 respectively compared to 2002. The number of counterfeit CZK 100 notes was affected by counterfeits produced intentionally for use in slot machines. Most were seized in the East Bohemian region. Some were also found during searches in houses of detained offenders. The counterfeits were made on an inkjet printer with no effort to copy any security elements.
The town of Hradec Králové topped the list of locations where counterfeits were seized. It was followed by Prague, Ústí nad Labem, Ostrava and Brno. Other places recorded seizures running to just tens of banknotes.
Counterfeit and Altered Foreign Banknotes and Coins
In 2003, 1,864 counterfeit and altered foreign banknotes and coins were seized. Converted using
the exchange rate chart of 31 December 2003, they were worth
CZK
4,514,777.
A total of 503 counterfeits of the euro were seized in the Czech Republic. According to ECB statistics this constitutes less than 0.1% of the counterfeit euro banknotes seized in Europe in 2003. The number of euro counterfeits seized in the Czech Republic to date represents less than one half of the annual average occurrence of counterfeits of the former national currencies of the Eurosystem countries. The ?50 and ?100 denominations were the most frequently occurring of the euro-counterfeits. No counterfeit euro coins have been seized in the Czech Republic so far.
The number of counterfeit US dollars seized was 1,183, down by 91 from 2002. This number confirms the downward trend of the previous three years. As in the past, $100 bills predominated among them.
Counterfeit banknotes of the obsolete national currencies of the Eurosystem countries are still to be found. In 2003, a total of 38 counterfeit German marks, 15 Italian lire, 6 French francs and 6 Spanish pesetas were seized. As regards counterfeits of non-EMU European currencies, 85 pound sterling counterfeits are particularly worthy of mention.
Pavlína Bolfová, CNB spokesperson