Number of counterfeit banknotes dropped again last year

A total of 1,318 counterfeit and altered Czech banknotes and coins were seized in the Czech Republic in 2017, a decrease of 814 compared to 2016. The value of the seized banknotes and coins exceeded CZK 1.4 million. The CZK 1,000 banknote remains the most counterfeited denomination.

As in previous years, the majority of the counterfeit banknotes seized in 2017 were printed on inkjet printers – 1,019 banknotes, i.e. four-fifths of all seized koruna banknotes. A total of 249 seized counterfeit notes were made using colour toner copiers. On a five-point security scale, the seized banknotes were most frequently given a grade of 4, i.e. poor quality. Protective elements are usually not imitated on such counterfeits, or the imitations are only simple.

Including foreign currencies, the number of counterfeits seized last year was 2,850, i.e. 796 less than in 2016. This is the third annual decline in a row.

“The number of counterfeits seized in the Czech Republic in 2017 was the lowest since 1990. This does not mean, though, that people should stop paying due care and attention when accepting money. Moreover, the quality of most counterfeits remains low and they are quite easy to identify. Our highly-rated ‘Czech Money’ app can be helpful in this regard,” said Board Member Vojtěch Benda.

Counterfeit and altered banknotes and coins seized in 2017 in the Czech Republic:

A total of 1,532 counterfeit and altered foreign banknotes and coins were seized in the Czech Republic in 2017, an increase of 18 compared to 2016. Their value converted according to the exchange rate list as of 31 December 2017 was almost CZK 3 million.

As usual, most counterfeits of Czech banknotes were seized in Prague (654), followed by Brno (133) and Plzeň (87).

Markéta Fišerová
CNB Communications Division

Presentation (pfd, 764 kB, in Czech only)