The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 9, February 29, 2004, Article 4

ANTI-COUNTERFEITING MEASURES WORKING?

A recent article in USA Today suggests that counterfeiters
appear to be stumped (at least for now) by the new $20 bill.

"It's been four months since newly designed, color-filled $20s
began circulating, and early results suggest counterfeiters are
having a harder time faking them.

In the first four months, more than $1 million in fake new $20s
were accepted by businesses and later detected. That's more
than five times the $192,000 passed and caught in the same
period after the 1998 redesign, says the Secret Service, the
agency in charge of anti-counterfeiting efforts.

More money being caught, even if it was originally accepted,
suggests the new $20s are harder to fake because they are
easier to spot - the government's goal in the redesign."

"Police detectives say some counterfeiters have been successful
in mimicking the subtle colors on the new $20s.

"There's no such thing as a counterfeit-proof bank note," says
Bruce Townsend, deputy assistant director at the Secret
Service's office of investigations.

To read the full article, see: Full Article

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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