Rey Anthony H.
Chiu
BOHOL, July 6 (PIA)--Over the mysterious disappearance
of the security thread feature of genuine banknotes, Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas (BSP) now thinks every missing security thread turns into an asset
for counterfeiters.
The BSP has noticed that many of the small denomination bank notes
have lost a security feature in the security thread, a plastic strip with black
prints imbedded through the bill, and it took the government authorities a long
time to figure out why.
Their baffling question is now answered as BSP finally pieced
together a counterfeiting syndicate that uses security threads from smaller
denominations to embellish fake money, in an effort to secure a feature that a
legal tender has to sport, according to Atty. Leonides Sumbi of the BSP Visayas.
The stripping of security threads have been noted and that
banknotes without security threads can be deemed without value, Hazel
Arante, BSP information officer added.
Stripped security threads from the old P5, P10 and P20 are now
being used by counterfeiters to embellish bigger denominations, especially
P1000, Sumbi hinted adding that some money appraisers only look for the
security thread being a visible indicator of real money.
It's always huge denominations that are copied in fake, Sumbi hinted.
The technology and printing nearest to the security features of
real money costs a sizable amount so that chances are, it is the bigger
denominations that are counterfeited, Sumbi noted.
BSP also shared that other than the security
thread people must also check the watermarks, security fibers,
iridescent band, embossed prints, serial number, see through marks, concealed
value, optically variable ink, micro printing and fluorescent features in
determining genuine banknotes.
BSP also noted that the new generation currency uses abaca
fiber and the paper texture and embossed prints can be felt.
Atty Sumbi added that other than feeling for the banknote,
everyone must check for the watermarks, security fibers and threads, fine line
prints and see-through marks.
"While by tilting the paper, the concealed value would be
revealed, while changing of colors of the windowed security thread and
optically variable ink and optically variable device patch changes are some of
the markers to look for," Sumbi said.
These are real indicators and consumers must not hurry in checking
the money they are getting, Atty Sumbi warned. (mbcn/rahc/PIA7-Bohol)
- See
more at:
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1101436234867/missing-security-threads-end-up-in-counterfeit-bills#sthash.sB9lQOyh.dpuf