Former Secret Service Agent Explains How to Detect Counterfeit Money | Tradecraft | WIRED

Summary

The video script delves into the history and impact of counterfeit currency in the United States, highlighting the critical role of the Secret Service in combating this illegal activity. It explains the sophisticated techniques used by counterfeiters and the security features incorporated into Federal Reserve notes to prevent forgery. The script also touches on historical attempts to destabilize the U.S. economy through counterfeiting, emphasizing the ongoing battle to protect the nation's financial integrity.

Takeaways

• 💡 The United States Secret Service was initially formed during the Civil War to combat the rising issue of counterfeit currency produced by the Confederate Army.
• 🔍 Banks and financial institutions receive instruction from the Secret Service on how to detect counterfeit money, which often has minute differences noticeable to the trained eye.
• 💼 The Secret Service's mission is to suppress counterfeit currency and ensure it doesn't circulate within the U.S. economy.
• 🎨 Counterfeit currency is not a simple home-printed item but a high-level artistic replication of Federal Reserve notes, often undetectable to the untrained eye.
• 🌍 During WWII, the Nazis attempted to destabilize the U.S. dollar by forcing Jewish artisans to create counterfeit currency, but these efforts failed due to expert detection.
• 💸 In major financial areas of the U.S., large amounts of counterfeit currency are seized weekly, highlighting the ongoing issue.
• 🔐 Federal Reserve notes contain various security features, some of which are classified and closely guarded by the U.S. Government.
• 🌀 The presence of watermarks, optical varying ink, and microprinting are common security features that help distinguish genuine currency from counterfeit bills.
• 🔬 Microprinting, such as the fine print on the lapel of the $100 bill featuring 'The United States of America,' is a security feature that is hard to replicate.
• 🌈 Colored fibers embedded in the bills, some of which glow under UV light, serve as indicators of genuine currency.
• 📏 The serial number on each Federal Reserve note is a tracking device used by the Secret Service to identify counterfeit bills that do not follow a specific sequence.
• 🏦 Counterfeit bills may not align with the correct Federal Reserve Bank, which is indicated on the bill and can be a key indicator of forgery.

Q & A

What is the historical role of counterfeit money in the United States?

Counterfeit money has played a significant role throughout U.S. history, particularly during the Civil War when the Confederate Army printed counterfeit currency to destabilize the North's economy.

What assistance does the Secret Service provide to banks and financial institutions?

The Secret Service offers training and instruction on how to detect counterfeit money, focusing on the minute differences that are obvious to trained professionals.

Why was the United States Secret Service formed?

The Secret Service was formed during the Civil War in response to the rising amount of counterfeit currency being printed by the Confederate Army and distributed in the North.

What was Hitler's strategy during World War II regarding counterfeit currency?

Hitler and the Nazis forced Jewish artisans to create counterfeit currency in an attempt to destabilize the U.S. dollar globally, but these attempts failed.

How do security features in Federal Reserve notes help in detecting counterfeit bills?

Security features such as watermarks, optical varying ink, microprinting, colored fibers, and 3D hologram strips are embedded in genuine Federal Reserve notes to deter counterfeiting.

What is the significance of the watermark in Federal Reserve notes?

The watermark is an imprint into the paper itself, developed during the paper stock's creation, and is a key security feature that is not easily replicated by counterfeiters.

What is optical varying ink and how does it help in identifying genuine bills?

Optical varying ink is an image-shifting ink that changes color as the bill moves, visible to the naked eye, and is a common security feature in the 20 and 100 dollar bills.

Why is microprinting an effective security feature against counterfeiting?

Microprinting is fine artistic work that cannot be replicated by photocopying, as it would appear as a straight line instead of the intricate design, making it a key indicator of a counterfeit bill.

What security feature is present on the lapel of Franklin on the $100 bill?

On the lapel of Franklin on the $100 bill, there is microprinting that reads 'The United States of America,' which is difficult to see without magnification and serves as a security feature.

How do colored fibers and UV lighting contribute to the security of Federal Reserve notes?

Colored fibers, red and blue, are embedded in the bills, and some fibers glow under UV lighting, which are key indicators of genuine bills and difficult for counterfeiters to replicate.

What role do serial numbers play in identifying counterfeit Federal Reserve notes?

Serial numbers are unique to each genuine Federal Reserve note and are used by the Secret Service as a tracking device. Counterfeit bills often do not follow the specific sequence of serial numbers, making them identifiable.

How do counterfeiters' attempts to align bills with the right Federal Reserve Bank affect the authenticity of the bills?

Counterfeiters often fail to align the bills with the correct Federal Reserve Bank, which is a key indicator of a counterfeit bill, as genuine bills are associated with a specific bank.