Buzz
1. Examine the banknote under light to distinguish
Real Money:
- Displays submerged shadows; under light, you'll clearly see two distinct shadow images with sharp, intricate lines that even sophisticated forgery techniques struggle to replicate.
- Features a security thread running vertically across the banknote alongside abbreviated text of the State Bank of Vietnam and the currency value in VND.
- Positional images on both sides align seamlessly without overlapping.
Counterfeit Money:
- Lacks submerged shadows or has blurred and indistinct shadows.Does not include a security thread, and the combination of 'SBV' and 'VND' may lack clarity or appear blurry.
- Positional images on both sides do not match, sometimes even overlapping or completely absent.
2. Verify by gently rubbing the banknote
Real Money:
- When gently stroking the raised characters, you can distinctly feel the elevation and texture, such as the portrait of Uncle Ho, the text 'SBV', the national emblem, and the line 'SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM'.
Counterfeit Money:
- Gently stroking the banknote reveals only a glossy surface, lacking raised features or the tactile sensation of roughness.
3. Differentiate by Color
Real Money:
- Optically Variable Ink (OVI): appears yellow when viewed head-on and changes to green when you tilt the banknote.
- Raised Image: when you place the banknote at eye level, you can clearly see the raised letters 'VND'.
- ORIODIN security thread, genuine money has a sparkling yellow band running vertically on the banknote when tilted or exposed to light.
Counterfeit Money:
- Has OVI feature, but it won't change color and only has a single color or changes to a different color not typical of genuine notes.
- Does not have the ORIODIN feature, so it lacks the sparkling yellow band seen in genuine banknotes.
4. Differentiate Currency Using a Magnifying Glass
Real Money:
- Features the abbreviation 'State Bank of Vietnam' or the denomination printed in super tiny characters, almost invisible to the naked eye. It's repeated in a pattern within an area, and only a magnifying glass will reveal these characters clearly.
Counterfeit Money:
- Due to the excessively small details, counterfeiters cannot replicate this feature on fake banknotes.
5. Examine the watermark on the banknote
Real Money:
- In the large transparent area, the raised denomination cluster is intricately and sharply embossed.
- In the small transparent area, there is a latent image (DOE), visible when closely examined with a light source such as a bulb, candle, or flame; the latent image becomes apparent around that light source.
Counterfeit Money:
- The printed denomination cluster lacks intricacy or may be entirely absent, the symbol is not transparent, and there is a cloudy, blurred appearance. When placed near a light source like a bulb or flame, no latent image becomes visible.
6. Smell the Banknote to Differentiate
Real Money:
- Authentic polymer banknotes have a distinctive, pleasant polymer scent, making them easily recognizable.
Counterfeit Money:
- Does not have the polymer scent; instead, it may emit a strong odor of plastic or nylon, making it unpleasant to smell. This is the quickest method that bank and postal employees often use to differentiate between genuine and fake money.
