Counterfeit cash is at an 8-year high in Australia, new figures show. Here’s how to spot it
More than 40,000 fake notes – mostly $50 and $100 in cash – were detected in the past year alone. Authorities warn of a ‘concerning improvement’ in quality.
Australian authorities discovered more than $2 million in fake $100 notes in Queensland in June 2026, according to recent data from the Reserve Bank of Australia. The number of counterfeit notes seized has reached an 8-year high, with 40,613 fake notes detected in the past year, a 277% increase in just 15 months. These fake notes account for 95% of the total, with the majority being $50 and $100 bills.
The rate of detection hit 20 notes per million in the latest data, the highest since June 2018. This surge in counterfeits has prompted local police to warn the public about how to spot fakes and what actions to take if they suspect receiving a fake note.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
