User`s guide

Alpha 600/601 User’s Guide 19
Using the Counterfeit Detector Feature
About Paper Money
Just because the Counterfeit detector feature shows a glowing strip does
not always mean the paper money is real. A clever forger may include this
strip in a fake bill. Always use multiple methods to decide if you want to
accept a bill as valid.
Each bill amount has a strip that glows a different color. The location of
the UV markings in US and Canadian currency is shown below:
Canadian Paper Currency: UV sensitive dots are placed in a random
pattern throughout the bill. These dots glow blue. Newer Canadian bills
may have different UV-sensitive markings. See your bank or local
government office for help on what UV-sensitive markings to look for in a
genuine bill.
Detecting Suspicious Money
Always use multiple counterfeit detection methods to guard against
fraudulent paper currency. Some of the more common methods for
detecting valid US currency are:
• Look for blue and red threads in the fabric.
• Hold the bill up to a light source and check for the watermark - which
should be the face of the same President pictured on the front of that
denomination bill.
• Hold the bill up to a normal light source (not a UV light) and look for the
UV sensitive strip, the characters USA and the numeric denomination of
the bill (either in numeric form or spelled out).
• Mark the bill using a Universal Counterfeit Detector Pen, which uses
special ink that reacts to counterfeit paper currency.
For other currency, such as Canadian money, see your bank or local
government office for help.
Table 5 US paper currency UV mark locations
US $ bill... Has this color... Located here...
$ 5 Blue Left edge of bill
$ 10 Orange Right of Hamilton's head
$ 20 Green Left edge of bill
$ 50 Yellow Right of Grant's head
$100 Red Left of Franklin's head