5 ways to identify fake naira notes

Many people have fallen victims of fake money because they don’t know how to identify the counterfeit of their national currency.

The truth is, anybody can be a victim of fake naira notes scam. If you don’t know the differences between a real Naira note and its counterfeit you are susceptible to many more scams.

1. Check the texture

If the texture of the money is soft, so soft that it gives you a concern, and the image in it looks dull, you can reject it and ask for another Naira note from whoever gives it to you.

2. Use water or other liquid

Conmen produce fake money. And the colours they use in printing counterfeits are soluble in water and some other liquids.

If you have a doubt about a note, immerse it in water or petrol and scrub it gently. If it’s fake money, its colours will wash off like an artwork painted with watercolours.

Again, once you immerse it in water, the paper becomes messed. it will get rough and look more like a paper mache. However, the real note won’t look like this when immersed in water or any liquid.

3. Check the gold foil

The N1000 note has a gold foil on the right side, just beside the CBN governor’s signature. If you scratch the gold foil of a fake note it will peel off while that of original note doesn’t peel.

4. Check the ribbon/thread

There is a thread which looks like a ribbon on all Naira notes, running from the top to the bottom.

In real notes, this thread can be felt. It is more noticeable on old Naira notes. However, in fake notes, there’s something that looks like the thread but it’s not.

What is there is just straight line painting that looks the thread in original notes. If you scratch the painting, it’ll peel off like the silver panel on recharge cards.

5. Use mercury bulbs

Some features of the paper naira notes cannot be seen with naked eyes. These features are only in original Naira notes, and one cannot see them except with the help of mercury bulbs.

For instance, if a real N1000 note is placed under the rays from a mercury bulb, it’ll show a glowing 1000 (in numbers) written across the note. The same applies to smaller denominations.

While mercury bulb is available at shops where electrical materials are sold, this method is preferable for business owners or people who handle bulk cash.