The European Central Bank reported the volume of counterfeit banknotes reduced to the lowest level in 2021. Last year, forgers were not so active and the number of fake euro banknotes remained at an all-time low compared to the figures seen in previous years. According to the ECB report, 347,000 banknotes were withdrawn from circulation in 2021. Experts note that only 12 counterfeits were detected per 1 million genuine banknotes, a historically low level. About two thirds of the total were €20 and €50 banknotes. The ECB reported a decrease in the number of fake euro notes by 24.6% compared to 2020. Notably, 95% of counterfeits were found in euro area countries, while 4.2% were found in non-euro area EU Member States. The reproductions are easy to detect as they are low-quality and have no security features.
