Counterfeit Banknotes Surge on Lunar New Year's Eve: Watch Out for Fake 100 and 1,000 NTD Bills!

As the traditional Lunar New Year approaches, fake hundred and thousand-dollar New Taiwan Dollar (NTD) banknotes have begun circulating across Taiwan.

Recently, merchants in Yunlin, Taoyuan (Bade), and New Taipei City (Tamsui) discovered criminals deliberately passing off convincingly printed toy banknotes as real currency. It has become clear that criminal fraud rings are operating nationwide. Targeted victims include traditional vegetable market stalls, betel nut kiosks, local mom-and-pop grocery stores, gas stations, and food delivery couriers.

Following professional examination by the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan), officials noted that these fake bills were produced via simple color photocopies or desktop printing without authentic anti-counterfeiting security features. Many bills were crudely marked with text such as “Toy Printing Works,” “Magic Printing Plant,” “Teaching Printing Shop,” “Magic Bank,” or “Toy Currency.” Fraudsters are disguising them under the pretense of “stationery” or “magic props” to scam unsuspecting merchants.

To safeguard your earnings during the busy Lunar New Year shopping period, remember the three simple inspection steps: “Look,” “Feel,” and “Tilt.”

Three Simple Steps to Spot Counterfeit Banknotes

1. Look

Hold the bill up against a light source to check for the embedded watermark in the blank section. When viewed at a 15-degree angle, the numeral “1000” hidden in the pattern on the bottom-right corner of the front side will become visible.

2. Feel

Touch the printed numbers and lettering on the front of the bill with your fingers. Genuine currency features raised intaglio ink texture that feels noticeably rough and tactile to the touch.

3. Tilt

Tilt the banknote gently. The numeral “1000” on the bottom-left of the front and upper-left of the back will shift dynamically between gold and green. Additionally, the security foil strip on the right side and the windowed security thread on the back will reflect rainbow-colored metallic light effects.

Known Serial Numbers of Circulating Fake Notes

Currently identified counterfeit serial numbers include:

• 1,000 NTD notes: HR484268XD, MX143303ES
• 100 NTD notes: CQ281880VJ

Counterfeit bills are generally printed on rough paper, lack a fine tactile texture, and have no true light-transmitting watermarks. Merchants and cashiers should take a brief second to inspect notes upon receipt.

Cash Rewards for Reporting Counterfeiting

Taiwanese law imposes severe criminal penalties on currency counterfeiting. Under Article 3 of the Penal Act for Offenses Against the National Currency, manufacturing or altering currency under grave circumstances carries life imprisonment or a minimum of 10 years in prison. Furthermore, under Article 196 of the Criminal Code, knowingly circulating counterfeit currency carries a prison sentence of 3 to 10 years.

If you encounter suspicious counterfeit currency, please report it immediately to local police authorities. The Central Bank offers cash rewards for whistleblowers whose tips lead to the apprehension of counterfeiters.