The Bank of Finland published updated figures on counterfeit euro banknotes found in circulation in Finland, reporting 714 detections in 2024. This was up from 653 in 2023 and 469 in 2022, with the Bank noting the level remains small compared with the rest of the euro area and reiterating the need to check banknote security features when handling cash. By denomination, EUR 20 notes accounted for the largest share of counterfeits in 2024 (386), followed by EUR 50 (197) and EUR 10 (71). The release also set out earlier annual totals, including 1,496 in 2020 and 523 in 2021, and pointed to practical checks such as feeling raised print, looking through the note against the light, and tilting it, alongside an online banknote-recognition course. The Bank also referenced a European Central Bank press release providing a euro area overview of counterfeit euro banknotes.
Bank of Finland 2025-02-21
Bank of Finland reports 714 counterfeit euro banknotes detected in Finland in 2024
The Bank of Finland reported 714 counterfeit euro banknotes detected in Finland in 2024, up from 653 in 2023 and 469 in 2022, but noted the level remains low compared to the euro area. EUR 20 notes were the most counterfeited, followed by EUR 50 and EUR 10. The Bank emphasized the importance of checking banknote security features and referenced a European Central Bank overview of euro area counterfeits.