Germany sees rise in counterfeit euro banknotes in first half of 2025

The volume of counterfeit euro banknotes circulating in Germany has continued to grow, with the Bundesbank removing approximately 36,600 fake notes from circulation between January and June this year. 

The seized counterfeits carried a face value of just under €2.1 million — an 8 per cent increase compared to the second half of 2024, Caliber.Az reports via German media.

The rising trend follows a sharp jump in counterfeit activity last year, prompting renewed concern among authorities. However, the Bundesbank emphasised that the overall level of counterfeit money in Germany remains low. “Statistically, there were only nine counterfeit banknotes per 10,000 inhabitants,” noted Burkhard Balz, the Bundesbank Executive Board member responsible for cash operations.

While the total number of counterfeit notes increased, the financial damage caused remained largely unchanged. This is due to a shift in the denominations being forged: there was a noticeable rise in fake €50 and €100 notes, while the number of counterfeit €200 and €500 banknotes declined.

“We are seeing counterfeiters increasingly use the more common denominations such as €50 and €100 notes in fraudulent transactions involving high-value goods,” Balz explained.

The €50 note remains the most targeted denomination, accounting for 51 per cent of all counterfeit notes seized. The €20 note was the second most forged, followed by the €100 note, which made up 17 per cent of the total.

The Bundesbank reiterated that counterfeit currency is not reimbursed, and anyone accepting it bears the financial loss. The central bank also issued a strong warning against attempting to pass on fake notes, which constitutes a criminal offence. Citizens are urged to hand over suspicious banknotes directly to the Bundesbank or local police.

Many counterfeit notes are relatively easy to identify, lacking standard security features and often bearing clear markings such as “MovieMoney” or “PropCopy.” To help the public identify counterfeits, the Bundesbank and police continue to promote the “Feel-Look-Tilt” method — encouraging people to check banknotes by touch, visual inspection, and tilting them to observe embedded features.

In addition to forged notes, counterfeit coins remain a persistent issue. In the first half of 2025, the Bundesbank recorded around 68,400 fake coins — nearly twice as many as counterfeit banknotes.

By Vugar Khalilov