Figures from the Bundesbank: There was much less counterfeit cash in circulation in 2025 | EUROtoday

As of: February 27, 2026 • 10:00 a.m

Thanks to profitable police work, there was much less counterfeit cash in circulation in 2025. The counterfeit banknotes are sometimes straightforward to identify. It’s price taking a more in-depth have a look at the checkout, for instance.

In retrospect, Guido Groß would have preferred to have managed issues higher. The 55-year-old man from Kassel has already fallen for counterfeit cash. “I was angry with myself at the time because I was so careless,” he says trying again.

Last 12 months he privately offered a brand new smartphone to a younger lady and obtained a stack of pretend fifties from her in return. At first look he would not have acknowledged the fakes, says Groß, however upon nearer inspection he would have.

Fewer counterfeits, much less injury

The German Bundesbank registered virtually 68,000 counterfeit euro notes nationwide final 12 months. That was six % lower than the 12 months earlier than. The variety of counterfeit cash additionally fell by 9 % to round 128,000 final 12 months.

According to the Bundesbank, this meant that the perpetrators had been capable of trigger much less injury. The attainable quantity of injury fell from 4 and a half million euros beforehand to 4 million euros in 2025. Sven Bertelmann, an skilled on counterfeit cash on the Bundesbank, attributes this decline to the truth that the police have efficiently investigated many instances. In addition, not like in earlier years, the perpetrators would put fewer giant notes into circulation, resembling counterfeit 100 and 200 euro banknotes.

Fake fifties well-liked with criminals

“The fifties are most often counterfeited in Germany,” says Bertelmann: “The quality of these counterfeits tends to decrease.” Because the counterfeiters would know that many individuals would not test the banknotes very carefully.

According to the Bundesbank, the vast majority of counterfeits are straightforward to acknowledge. It is so-called movie cash, which is even written on the entrance or again of the notes. You will look in useless for typical security measures resembling holograms and watermarks; they’re solely hinted at.

Intended as a prop for movie and theater

“It acts as if it were an official film prop, but it is an illegal copy of cash,” says Bertelmann, who heads the nationwide evaluation heart on the Bundesbank. Because the notes might be confused with actual cash. The perpetrators would pay with this and sometimes initially get away with it. Because when individuals are in a rush, they do not look so carefully.

“This is exactly what many criminals take advantage of, for example in retail and restaurants,” says Virginie Wegner, press spokeswoman for the Hessian State Criminal Police Office: “If, for example, there are a number of people at the checkout and it’s hectic, then they put counterfeit money into circulation.” Folk festivals and Christmas markets are simply as well-liked.

Frankfurt Airport: a gateway for counterfeit cash

According to the LKA, there have been virtually 600 instances associated to counterfeit cash in Hesse alone in 2024; In 2025 there needs to be an identical quantity. The police had been capable of clear up the vast majority of the instances by utilizing the descriptions of witnesses and the fabric from video cameras, reviews Wegner.

According to Wegner, the counterfeit cash itself usually comes from overseas, particularly from China. A whole lot of it arrives at Frankfurt Airport by air freight. According to their very own data, customs officers have already confiscated total suitcases stuffed with counterfeit banknotes.

Anyone who passes on counterfeit cash is committing a prison offense

If customers fall for counterfeit notes, they need to in no way go them on to others, warns press spokeswoman Wegner: “Anyone who puts counterfeit money into circulation is committing a criminal offense.” He should anticipate a jail sentence of 1 12 months, or much more in particular instances.

Instead, these affected ought to hand in counterfeit cash to the police or the Bundesbank. This means they’re left with the injury. The Bundesbank due to this fact advises customers to test the authenticity of banknotes upfront and, for instance, examine them with banknotes which might be undoubtedly real.