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China: No undetectable counterfeit banknotes

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-16 09:04

BEIJING -- The People's Bank of China on Thursday denied reports of new counterfeit banknotes that can fool poor quality cash scanners.

Media reports said that high-quality counterfeit notes, mostly with serial numbers starting "HD90", had been detected in more than 10 cities.

However, a PBOC spokesman said the so-called high-quality counterfeits bore obvious fake features. "The paper quality, watermark and magnetic security line are obviously different from genuine notes. You can identify them from the feel and look of the notes," he said.

Counterfeit detectors at banks and ATMs could easily detect them, so it was safe to withdraw and deposit money, he said.

He also denied the amount of counterfeit money in circulation had increased sharply.

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The amount of fake money detected by financial institutions and police was not substantially higher than usual and the situation remained "normal", he said.

Under Chinese law, people who intentionally hold or use counterfeit currency can face up to 10 years in prison.

A 34-year-old Chinese farmer was sentenced 10 months in prison and fined 15,000 yuan (US$2,206) Tuesday for using 55 counterfeit notes with a 100-yuan face value in a jewelry shop in Shanghai.