The number of counterfeit banknotes has increased sharply in Germany over the past year. Authorities confiscated more than 5 million euros. This is reported by Deutsche Welle with a link to the country's central bank.
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How The publication writes that about 56,600 banknotes with a theoretical value of almost 5.1 million euros were withdrawn from circulation.
The figures released by the country's central bank indicate an increase in the number of banknotes by 28% and an increase in the nominal value by 90% compared to with 2022. The most common counterfeit banknotes were in denominations of 200 and 500 euros.
However, the German Central Bank noted that the figures are far from the 2015 record – then 95,400 counterfeit banknotes were discovered.
The regulator also emphasized that the risk of contact with counterfeit money for ordinary citizens remains low. According to Bundesbank estimates, in 2023 in Germany there were an average of seven counterfeit banknotes per 10 thousand inhabitants.
