How to verify a 100 US Dollar bill

The U.S. Treasury incorporates various security features to combat counterfeit money. Approximately nine million dollars in fake bills are in circulation within the United States. The design of the 100-dollar bill is updated every decade, so the security features to check will depend on the release date of the note. Bills from the 2009 series and later contain more advanced security measures. The 100-dollar bill showcases a portrait of Benjamin Franklin on the front and the Independence Hall on the reverse side.

Examine the serial number. The serial number must match the release year of the bill. It appears in the upper-left and lower-right corners of the note. If the serial number does not align with the release year, the bill is counterfeit.

• If the bill is from the 2009 series, the serial number must begin with the letter J.
• If the bill is from the 2009A series, the serial number must begin with the letter L.

Feel Franklin's shoulder. The new 100-dollar bill features a raised printing technique on Benjamin Franklin's shoulder. Run your finger along this area, and you will feel its textured surface.

Check the color-shifting ink. A large copper-colored ink patch is located to the left of the serial number. Inside this patch is a bell that changes from copper to green when viewed from different angles.

• The number 100 next to the ink patch will also change color, just like older 100-dollar bills.

Hold the bill up to the light. A security thread is embedded into the bill running vertically along the left side of Franklin's portrait. The letters 'USA' and the number 100 alternate on the thread, visible from both sides of the bill.

• If you hold the bill up to ultraviolet light, the thread will glow pink.
• You can purchase a UV light to detect counterfeit bills, which is a useful tool if your job often involves handling cash. The AccuBanker D63 Compact UV light is a popular option, priced around 50 dollars.

Examine the blue security ribbon. Just to the right of Franklin’s portrait, you’ll find a 3D blue security ribbon woven into the bill. Move the bill back and forth and check to see if the number 100 and tiny bells shift positions.

• The ribbon is woven into the paper, not glued on. If you can peel it off, the bill is counterfeit.

Look for the watermarked portrait. Hold the bill up to the light and find the faint, watermarked image of Benjamin Franklin inside a white oval to the right. The watermark can be seen from both sides of the bill.

Use a magnifying glass to find the microprinted characters. Inspect the collar of Franklin's jacket and you'll spot the tiny print of 'The United States of America.'

• You will also see 'USA 100' printed around the white space containing the portrait.
• The 'USA 100' text is also visible around the quill pen to the right of Franklin's image.

Check the date. The most recent 100-dollar bill belongs to the '2009 Series' and features several distinctive security features. Older bills are being removed from circulation to combat counterfeiting. However, older bills are still legal tender, so if you receive one, don’t automatically assume it’s fake. Check the bill's issue date.

• The standard 100-dollar bill has been in circulation for about 7 years, so most older bills have already been removed. However, you may still have a few in your possession that you can examine for their security features.

Feel the bill. U.S. dollar bills have a unique texture. They are printed on a cotton-linen blend, not paper. The ink used on the bills also has a slight raised feel, which is a feature of the printing technology. If your job involves frequent handling of cash, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the feel of real currency.

• However, relying solely on touch isn’t foolproof. Professional counterfeiters can bleach real bills and print over them.
• Since it's difficult for counterfeiters to replicate raised ink, this method is useful for an initial check.

Look for the security thread. 100-dollar bills printed after 1990 must have a security thread on the left side, visible only when held up to light. The thread features alternating 'USA' and '100' text. If you hold the bill under ultraviolet light, the thread will emit a pink glow.

Kiểm tra kỹ thuật in siêu nhỏ. Các tờ tiền cũ sử dụng kỹ thuật in siêu nhỏ để làm đặc điểm an toàn. Sử dụng kính lúp kiểm tra các ký tự nhỏ xuất hiện tại các vị trí khác nhau tùy vào năm phát hành tờ tiền.

• Ví dụ, từ 100 đô la phát hành giữa năm 1990-1996 sẽ có chữ “The United States of America” xuất hiện trên mép ngoài của hình ô-van chân dung.
• Các tờ tiền phát hành giữa năm 1996-2013 có chữ “USA100” xuất hiện bên trong số 100 tại góc dưới bên trái. Bạn cũng sẽ thấy dòng chữ “The United States of America” trên ve áo bên trái của Franklin.

Tìm mực in đổi màu. Tờ 100 đô la phát hành giữa năm 1996-2013 sử dụng mực in đổi màu. Cầm nghiêng tờ tiền trước ánh sáng và nhìn vào góc dưới bên phải. Con số 100 phải đổi từ màu xanh lá cây sang màu đen.

Tìm ảnh chân dung in mờ. Các tờ tiền in sau năm 1996 có ảnh chân dung in mờ của Benjamin Franklin trên khoảng trống ở bên trái. Ảnh này phải rất mờ nhưng có thể nhìn thấy từ hai bên.

Chú ý đường nét nhòe. Tiền thật sẽ có đường nét rõ ràng và sắc, là các yếu tố rất khó để làm giả. Nếu bạn thấy chữ hay nét in bị nhòe thì có lẽ đó là tiền giả.

Sử dụng bút phát hiện tiền giả. Loại bút này được bán trên Amazon với giá 5 đô la. Nó tìm các hóa chất phổ biến được dùng trên tiền giả. Tuy nhiên, kẻ gian ngày càng thông minh hơn và không còn dùng các hóa chất đó, vì vậy loại bút này có thể mắc sai sót.

• Bạn có thể mua bút phát hiện tiền giả có đèn UV gắn trên nắp bút với giá chưa đến 10 đô la.

Compare with another bill. 100-dollar bills printed before 1990 lack any special security features. Therefore, the best way to check is to compare it with another 100-dollar bill. You may need to visit the bank for confirmation to verify if the bill is genuine.

• You can also visit the U.S. Currency website to view images of older 100-dollar bills.

Retain the counterfeit bill. If you suspect the bill is fake, do not return it to the person who gave it to you. Instead, try to keep them with you. Call a manager and inform the person that your manager wants to inspect the bill.

Record detailed information. While waiting, make sure to jot down important details about the person who handed you the bill. Note their age, height, hair color, eye color, weight, and other distinguishing features.

• If they arrived in a car, try to get their license plate number.
• Remember, the person handing you the fake bill may not be the criminal, so don't assume you need to arrest or confront them. They might be innocent.

Mark the bill. You should sign your initials and write the date on the white border around the bill.

Avoid handling that banknote. You will need to hand it over to the police, who may need to take fingerprints from it. For this reason, limit your contact with the note as much as possible. Place it in an envelope and secure it in a notebook.

• Remember not to store it with other bills. Instead, label the envelope as 'counterfeit money' so it can be easily located later.

Contact the police. You can find the police phone number in your directory. Inform them that you have a counterfeit $100 bill and provide them with your address. They will guide you on the next steps. Typically, the police will coordinate with the Secret Service for further investigation.

• You can also directly reach out to the Secret Service if you prefer. You can find information about the local offices of the Secret Service on their website: https://www.secretservice.gov/contact/field-offices/. Simply enter your ZIP code.

Hand over the counterfeit bill. Only surrender the bill to a police officer with clear identification or a Secret Service agent. If you hand the counterfeit bill over to the Secret Service, you will need to complete a Counterfeit Money Report for each bill.