Discover more false Europles in Belgium and Eurozone

Despite the increase, the number of notes in our country remains “historically low”. According to the National Bank, the increase can be explained by the fact that exceptionally few notes were requested in the years after the Coronacrisis. The number of false notes is still much lower than for the pandemic.

Notes of 20 euros (34 percent or 4,870 intercepts) and especially 50 euros (47 percent or 6,796 notes) were the most popular in the Valsemunters in Belgium.

Last year it was about 554,000 false notes worldwide, of which almost 98 percent in the euro countries. Per million real notes in Omloop, it concerned 18 notes taken out of circulation, compared to 16 in 2023. The figure increases for the third year in a row, but the ECB also points to the relatively low number.

“The risk that you will come into contact with false banknotes is small. Moreover, you can check the authenticity of a ticket in a few seconds by feeling, looking and tilting. Suspected notes are therefore quickly and easy to detect, which discourages counterfeiters, “concludes the NBB.

Most counterfeits are easy to recognize because they have no or very poorly counterfeit authenticity characteristics, the ECB.

Anyone who has a fake note must report this to the police. It is punishable to use a ticket if you suspect it is false. Whoever got one is out of luck. False notes are worth nothing and you will not receive any compensation for it.