First glance: Look at the money you receive. Compare a suspect note with a genuine note of the same denomination and series, paying attention to the quality of printing and paper characteristics. Look for differences.
Portrait: The portrait on a genuine bill stands out distinctly from the background. The counterfeit portrait is usually lifeless and flat. Details merge into the background, which is often dark or mottled.
Federal Reserve and Treasury seals: On a genuine bill, the saw-tooth points of the Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury seals are clear and distinct. The counterfeit seals may have uneven, blunt or broken saw-tooth points.
Border: The fine lines in the border of a genuine bill are clear and unbroken. On the counterfeit, the lines in the outer margin and scrollwork may be blurred and indistinct.
Serial numbers: Genuine serial numbers have a distinctive style and are evenly spaced. The serial numbers are printed in the same ink color as the Treasury seal.
Paper: Genuine currency paper has tiny red and blue fibers embedded throughout. Often counterfeiters try to simulate these fibers by printing thin red and blue lines on their paper. Close inspection reveals, however, that lines on counterfeit notes are printed on the surface.
Source: U.S. Secret Service
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