Free report reveals

How to use your new UV ultra violet lights to detect counterfeit credit cards, currency, money orders and checks

Criminal counterfeiting has always been a problem.  Now, with high quality color photocopiers and home computers,amateur counterfeiting is a profitable do-it-yourself hobby.  Businesses need to know that black lights aren’t just for looking at currency.  A black light is a powerful tool to help you select counterfeit currency and forged travelers checks, credit cards and currency Series 1996 $100, $50, $20 bills

The US Treasury Department has gradually been updating America’s paper currency.  The most obvious difference is the size and off-center location of the portraits (Franklin on the $100, Grant on the $50, and Jackson, $20).  Portraits are now left of center and heads alone take of space formerly occupied by a head and shoulders view.  But changes in the portraits are relatively minor compared to the “high-tech” features hidden inside the paper fibers and invisible to the unaided eye in ordinary light.

If you handle much currency, you’ll already be familiar with the embedded security thread in U.S. currency of five dollars and higher.  When held to any light, the thread has the denomination spelled out separated by the letters “USA”.  The updated $100-50-20 bills still have the thread but with an important new feature – the thread fluoresces under long wave black light.

The thread is to the left of the portrait in $100 bills and fluoresces red; the thread is to the right of Grant in the $50 and fluoresces yellow/orange the thread is on the left side in the $20 and fluoresces green.

The security thread is the only feature of authentic U.S. currency, which fluoresces under black light.  If the ink, paper or other features fluoresce, the bill is a counterfeit or has been altered.  This is usually caused by chemical and dyes in the paper used in laser printers and color photocopiers favored by amateur counterfeiters.  Another source of fluorescence is bleach, which is “was out” ink on genuine currency.  With the ink of a low denomination bleached out, counterfeiters will print a higher denomination on the genuine paper stock. 

Another hidden feature of the updated bills is a watermark portrait, which appears only when held to a strong light.  The portrait watermarks are on the right hand of all bills.  Immediately under the water mark is another new feature. The denomination numbers (100-50-21) in the lower right hand corner of the bills change color depending on the angle from which they are viewed.  The numbers appear green when viewed from the side.

The $100, $50, and $20 notes are the first pieces of currency to receive these new features.  Other denominations will be converted in coming years.  The Treasury Department says the changes are necessary to keep pace with the high technology available to forgers.  All earlier $100, $50, and $20 notes are still perfectly legal to use and there is no plan to recall them. 

Travelers checks As currencies around the world become harder to forge, many counterfeiters are turning to travelers checks.  Many sellers and merchants are lulled into a false sense of security by travelers checks and inspect them less closely than large denomination currency.  Regardless of brand name, virtually all genuine travelers checks look different under black light.  Which features fluoresce, of course, varies from company to company.  Two of the most widely used checks, Federal Express, and VISA, are shown here.  (Keep in mind, however, that the specific areas that fluoresce change from time to time).  Train yourself and your employees to treat travelers checks the same as high denomination currency.  Examine several features to establish authenticity.

Money orders The growth of Internet and mail order sales has lead to an increased use of money orders to guarantee funds and speed transactions.  Many, but certainly no all, money orders have black light security features similar to travelers checks.  The money order not only has invisible printing that fluoresces under black light but threads that fluoresce are also embedded in the paper.

Always examine suspected currency or checks in view of the person presenting them.  Do not make the examination under the counter or in another room.  That way there can be no accusations of “switching”.  JS&M's small battery powered hand held lights are ideal for examining currency and travels checks. 

Most examinations can be conducted in ordinary room lighting without the need for darkness.  The fluorescence is quick strong and is easy to see.  If you are outdoors in bright sunlight it might be necessary to examine the item in a shadow such as under a table or in a paper bag or box.