The German Bundesbank published its 2024 counterfeiting figures for cash in circulation in Germany, recording around 72,400 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of EUR 4.5 million. While the number of counterfeit notes rose by 28% from 2023, the total loss amount fell by 12% as lower-denomination, simpler fakes were more prevalent, leaving the overall incidence at nine counterfeit notes per 10,000 inhabitants. By denomination, EUR 50 notes accounted for the largest share (29,103, or 40%), followed by EUR 20 (20,552, or 28%) and EUR 100 (10,385, or 14%), with EUR 200 and EUR 500 counterfeits down year on year. Counterfeit notes were lower in the second half of 2024 (around 33,800) than in the first half (38,600), and many were described as easy to spot, including notes marked “MovieMoney” or “Prop copy”, sometimes with the marking obscured. The Bundesbank also registered around 141,300 counterfeit coins in 2024 (up from around 115,900), equivalent to 17 counterfeit coins per 10,000 inhabitants, largely driven by increased detection and submission of accumulated suspicious coins by some businesses and more EUR 2 coin counterfeits. EUR 2 coins represented 96% of counterfeit coins identified, and the second-half volume (around 61,700) was well below the first half (around 79,700); the Bundesbank reiterated practical checks for authenticity and offered free counterfeiting-prevention training via its branch network and online modules.

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