9 ways to identify a fake currency note

Every time one reads about the fake currency racket, the first picture that comes to our mind is the old bulgy shopkeeper taking our five hundred rupee note and putting it against the light, scanning it well with his golden spectacled eyes, before putting it in the drawer. More often than not the thought did cross our mind in those two minutes, “What if the note was fake?”

But did you know that RBI has embedded nine security features on all the Indian banknotes to demark ‘real’ notes from the ‘fake’ ones? Know all about how to save yourself from being bluffed by the pros in the field.

1. Watermark: The Mahatma Gandhi Series of banknotes contain the Mahatma Gandhi watermark with a light and shade effect and multi-directional lines in the watermark window. One can see it by tilting it against the light.

2. Security thread: Rs. 1000 notes contain a readable, windowed security thread alternately visible on the obverse with the inscriptions ‘Bharat’ (in Hindi), ‘1000’ and ‘RBI’, but totally embedded on the reverse. The Rs.500 and Rs.100 notes have a security thread with similar visible features and inscription ‘Bharat’ (in Hindi), and ‘RBI’. When held against the light, the security thread on Rs.1000, Rs.500 and Rs.100 can be seen as one continuous line.

The Rs.5, Rs.10, Rs.20 and Rs.50 notes contain a readable, fully embedded windowed security thread with the inscription ‘Bharat’ (in Hindi), and ‘RBI’. The security thread appears to the left of the Mahatma's portrait. 3. Latent Image: On the obverse side of Rs.1000, Rs.500, Rs.100, Rs.50 and Rs.20 notes, a vertical band on the right side of the Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait contains a latent image showing the respective value in numeral. The latent image is visible only when the note is held horizontally at eye level. 4. Microlettering: This feature appears between the vertical band and Mahatma Gandhi portrait. It contains the word ‘RBI’. This feature can be seen well under a magnifying glass. 5. Intaglio Printing: The portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, the Reserve Bank seal, guarantee and promise clause, Ashoka Pillar Emblem on the left, RBI Governor's signature are printed in intaglio that is in raised prints, which can be felt by touch, in Rs.20, Rs.50, Rs.100, Rs.500 and Rs.1000 notes. 6. Identification mark: A special feature in intaglio has been introduced on the left of the watermark window on all notes except Rs.10/- note, for the visually impaired to identify the denomination. This feature is in different shapes for various denominations (Rs. 20-Vertical Rectangle, Rs.50-Square, Rs.100-Triangle, Rs.500-Circle, Rs.1000-Diamond). 7. Fluorescence: Number panels of the notes are printed in fluorescent ink. The notes also have optical fibres. Both can be seen when the notes are exposed to ultra-violet lamp. 8. Optically Variable Ink: This is a new security feature incorporated in the Rs.1000 and Rs.500 notes with revised colour scheme introduced in November 2000. The numeral 1000 and 500 on the obverse of Rs.1000 and Rs.500 notes respectively is printed in optically variable ink viz., a colour-shifting ink. The colour of the numeral 1000/500 appears green when the note is held flat but would change to blue when the note is held at an angle. 9. See through Register: The small floral design printed both on the front (hollow) and back (filled up) of the note in the middle of the vertical band next to the Watermark has an accurate back to back registration. The design will appear as one floral design when seen against the light. Here is a little note which alerts the citizens about the legal provisions of counterfeiting, as issued by RBI. Printing and circulation of forged notes are offences under Sections 489A to 489E of the Indian Penal Code and are punishable in the courts of law by fine or imprisonment or both.

So, next time you take a note from anyone, make sure you take a while to check the security features to save yourself from that dreaded moment of embarrassment in the public forever.

(image credits: knowahead.in)