1. Finding a fake paper or polymer note
Polymer ₤ 5 and ₤ 10 notes have entirely replaced paper notes since 2018, while this year has actually seen the release of polymer ₤ 20 notes into circulation.
All notes will be polymer by the end of 2021, when the Bank of England expects to have actually issued a ₤ 50 polymer note.
But with paper notes still in blood circulation and polymer notes having additional safety functions to make them more difficult to counterfeit, what should you be watching out for to find if your cash is phony?
First, let's look at how to find a phony paper banknote. If you're particularly interested in spotting fake plastic notes, scroll directly to point 8.
These are printed on an unique product, so make sure you check how the paper feels.
An authentic banknote has a cloth-like feel, while a phony note will feel more like basic paper.
₤ 50 banknote (Image: Bank of England).
2. Raised print.
Run your finger throughout the paper note and if it's real, you should be able to feel the raised print on areas such as the words 'Bank of England' on the front.
If it's a counterfeit, the note is unlikely to have a textured feel to it and will feel flat all over.
3. Inspect the metallic thread.
A metallic thread is embedded in every paper banknote.
This appears as silver dashes on the back of paper ₤ 20 and ₤ 50 notes (see more info on finding phony paper ₤ 20 notes on this Bank of England page).
The thread is woven through the paper-- not simply printed on-- so when you hold it as much as the light it must look like a constant dark line.
This looks like brilliant green dashes on the front of ₤ 50 notes.
Each dash is really a window which includes images of the '₤' symbol and the number '50'. When the note is tilted from Buy fake money side to side, the images move up and down.
When the note is tilted up and down, the images move from side to side and the number '50' and '₤' sign swap locations.
4. Examine the watermark.
If you hold an authentic note as much as the light, you must see an image of the Queen's portrait.
However, if you can still see the watermark when the note is flat and not held up to the light, it's most likely to be a dodgy note.
5. Examine the print quality.
The printed lines and colours on authentic notes will be detailed and sharp and totally free from smudges or blurred edges. So make sure you check the information thoroughly.
If the quality is poor or messy, you have actually obtained a fake!
6. Check under ultra-violet light.
This isn't so handy if you have actually just been given a banknote in a store, however if you're really determined to learn whether your note is fake or genuine, put it under ultra-violet light.
If it's the genuine offer, its value will appear in intense red and green numbers while the background will be dull on the other hand.
The paper ₤ 20 and ₤ 50 notes also have intense red and green flecks arbitrarily spread over the front and back of the note.
7. Utilize a magnifying glass.
Use a magnifying glass to look closely at the lettering underneath the Queen's portrait. On a real note, decorative swirls spell out the worth of the note in small letters and characters.