1. Spotting a fake paper or polymer note
Polymer ₤ 5 and ₤ 10 notes have totally changed paper notes because 2018, while this year has actually seen the release of polymer ₤ 20 notes into blood circulation.
All notes will be polymer by the end of 2021, when the Bank of England expects to have actually provided a ₤ 50 polymer note.
However with paper notes still in circulation and polymer notes having additional security functions to make them harder to counterfeit, what should you be keeping an eye out for to spot if your money is phony?
Initially, let's take a look at how to spot a fake paper banknote. If you're particularly thinking about spotting fake plastic notes, scroll directly to point 8.
These are printed on an unique product, so make sure you inspect how the paper feels.
An authentic banknote has a cloth-like feel, while a phony note will feel more like basic paper.
₤ 50 banknote (Image: Bank of England).
2. Raised print.
Run your finger throughout the paper note and if it's genuine, you ought to be able to feel the raised print on areas such as the words 'Bank of England' on the front.
If it's a fake, the note is not likely to have a textured feel to it and will feel flat all over.
3. Examine the metal thread.
A metal thread is embedded in every paper banknote.
This looks like silver dashes on the back of paper ₤ 20 and ₤ 50 notes (see more details on spotting fake paper ₤ 20 notes on this Bank of England page).
The thread is woven through the paper-- not just printed on-- so when you hold it up to the light it ought to appear as a continuous dark line.
This appears as bright green dashes on the front of ₤ 50 notes.
Each dash is actually a window which contains images of the '₤' symbol and the number '50'. When the note is tilted from side to side, the images go up and down.
When the note is slanted up and down, the images move from side to side and the number '50' and '₤' sign swap locations.
4. Inspect the watermark.
If you hold an authentic note as much as the light, you ought to see an image of the Queen's portrait.
However, if you can still see the watermark when the note is flat and not held up to the light, it's most likely to be a dodgy note.
5. Examine the print quality.
The printed lines and colours on real notes will be detailed and sharp and devoid of smudges or blurred edges. So ensure you check the detail thoroughly.
If the quality is bad or untidy, you've obtained a phony!
6. Inspect under ultra-violet light.
This isn't so useful if you've simply been provided a banknote in a shop, but if you're actually identified to learn whether your note is fake or real, put it under ultra-violet light.
If it's the genuine deal, its worth will appear in brilliant red and green numbers while the background will be dull in contrast.
The paper ₤ 20 and ₤ 50 notes likewise have brilliant red and green flecks randomly spread out over the Fake money that looks and feels real front and back of the note.
7. Utilize a magnifying glass.
Use a magnifying glass to look carefully at the lettering below the Queen's portrait. On a real note, decorative swirls define the worth of the note in small letters and characters.