In 2024, the Bundesbank registered approximately 72,400 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of €4.5 million in German payments. The number of counterfeits was thus up by 28% on the year. 

The Bundesbank registered roughly 72,400 counterfeit euro banknotes in German payments in 2024. Thus, the number of counterfeits was up by 28 % compared with the previous year. At the same time, however, the loss arising from counterfeiting went down. Overall, the incidence of counterfeit money remains moderate in scale: statistically speaking, in 2024 there were nine counterfeit banknotes per 10,000 inhabitants, said Burkhard Balz, member of the Bundesbank’s Executive Board.

Im vergangenen Jahr gab es wieder mehr Falschgeld in Deutschland. Ein Großteil der Fälschungen sind jedoch leicht erkennbar, weil sie den Aufdruck Crop Money oder Movie Money haben. Doch sind längst nicht alle Fälschungen so leicht zu erkennen. Was tun, wenn man denkt, dass Geld gefälscht ist? In der neuen Folge Finance Flash erklärt Yannick, was bei verdächtigen Scheinen zu tun ist und wie Bargeld ganz leicht selbst zu überprüfen ist. In „Wahr oder Falsch“ kann mitgeraten werden, woran Falschgeld zu erkennen ist. Außerdem fragt sich Yannick, was passieren würde, wenn plötzlich sehr viel Falschgeld im Umlauf wäre.

The counterfeits being spread at present can be detected by checking the security features. In most cases, counterfeiters focus on just one or only few security features. Therefore, it is advisable to check several features.

The Counterfeit Money Unit's task is to examine and store counterfeit money of any currency which is seized in Germany or confiscated by the police. We also check the authenticity of payment cards, securities, traveller's cheques and gold and silver coins which are legal tender. Another focal point of our work is to prevent the circulation of counterfeit money.

In the period from January to June 2024, the Bundesbank removed significantly more counterfeit money from circulation in Germany than in the six months prior, detecting around 38,600 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of €2.4 million. This was 29% more than in the second half of 2023. Meanwhile, the total loss arising from counterfeit banknotes was only slightly up, by just under 5%. The increase was driven by easily identifiable counterfeits, especially of €10 and €20 banknotes, said Burkhard Balz, the Bundesbank’s Executive Board member whose remit includes cash management.

The National Cash Forum, initiated by the Deutsche Bundesbank in February 2024, has launched a new website to serve as a neutral source of information on all aspects of cash.