Counterfeiters’ heyday

The week's news at a glance.

Sofia, Bulgaria

Europe is drowning in counterfeit euro bills, European police said at a conference in Bulgaria this week. The adoption of the single euro currency, in circulation in 12 countries since 2002, has made trade and tourism transactions easier, but has also proved a boon to forgers, who have many more places to spend their fake bills. “They counterfeit dollar and euro bills, credit cards, traveler’s checks,” said Europol Director Juergen Storbeck. “They threaten our whole economic system.” The euro bill was designed with state-of-the-art colored inks, watermarks, and metal strips to resist counterfeiting, but criminals have already mastered the new technology.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us