Bundesbank: Weniger Falschgeld in Deutschland im Umlauf

The German Bundesbank reported a continued decline in the number of counterfeit Euro banknotes circulating in the country during the first six months of the current year. Around 30,000 fake Euro notes were seized by police, businesses and banks, according to the Bundesbank. This is a decrease from 36,610 in the first half of 2025 and a further drop from 31,353 in the second half of the previous year.

The total number of counterfeit notes in 2025 marked the first decline since three years of increasing numbers. "There is little counterfeit money in Germany," stated Bundesbank Vice President Lutz Lienenkämper. The likelihood of Germans being elated over counterfeit money is comparatively unlikely, as mathematically, only seven false banknotes out of 10,000 residents would be based on recent figures.

However, criminals manage to bring counterfeit currency into the country time and again. In the first half of the year, this resulted in a damage of €1.75 million. Recently, there have been more 100-Euro banknotes in circulation: 5,043 were detected in the first half of the year, 61% more than in the previous six months. Since many businesses do not accept or carefully inspect 100 and 200-Euro notes, counterfeiters primarily target 20 and 50-Euro notes.

These notes change hands frequently, and sellers are not always scrutinized closely. The 50-Euro note remained the most frequently counterfeited note in the first half of the year, accounting for about 47% of all counterfeits. Counterfeit notes are typically easy to spot, according to experts. They feel different from genuine notes as they often fail to replicate security features such as the transparent portrait window or shimmering green numbers.

Some criminals deliberately create easy-to-make fake notes like "MovieMoney" or "Prop copy," which are offered online as play money or movie props. Increasingly, they are also using terms like "Facsimile" or "Geçersiz." The European Central Bank (ECB) is currently developing a new banknote series with a different design to make it harder for counterfeiters.

Germans can vote on the design in an online poll until September 21. The ECB Council will select a proposal by the end of 2026. It is expected to take some time before the new Euro banknotes are in circulation, as stated by the Bundesbank.