Crowds are growing at sacrificial animal markets in the capital and across the country. Everyone is buying the animal they like as far as they can afford, while sellers part with their prized animals as a big sacrifice, and for some financial gain. But almost every year there are reports of fraud with counterfeit or fake notes, which can ruin a seller.

Dishonest traders release fake money into the market around festivals, and fake notes pass from hand to hand. Various gangs are active in spreading fake notes, targeting sacrificial animal markets. With a little awareness, however, you can protect yourself from this serious fraud.

Tk 100, 500 and 1,000 notes are the most often forged. Check the security thread, colour-changing ink, raised printing and watermark.

• On Tk 100, 500 and 1,000 notes and every other kind, the designs on the front and back, the central text, the denomination and seven parallel straight lines are printed in raised ink, so they feel slightly rough to the touch.
• On the right side of the note there are small round marks that feel raised to the touch: three on the Tk 100 note, four on the Tk 500 note and five on the Tk 1,000 note. This feature cannot be added to fake notes.
• The watermark on a fake note is blurred and poor quality. A genuine note has a clear watermark of a "tiger's head" and the Bangladesh Bank "monogram", visible when held against the light.
• Every denomination has a security thread bearing the Bangladesh Bank logo. The denomination and the Bangladesh Bank logo are printed in four places on the thread.

The security thread is very strong and so firmly fixed to the paper that it cannot be lifted by scratching with a fingernail or by twisting. Fake notes cannot carry the thread so precisely.

• On each Tk 100, 500 and 1,000 note, the denomination in English numerals in the top right corner is printed in colour-changing ink.

When the Tk 100 and Tk 1,000 notes are moved slowly, the figure changes from gold to green. Likewise, the 500 changes from reddish to greenish. The ink on fake notes may be shiny but does not change colour.

• Every note carries Bangabandhu's portrait, the Bangladesh Bank monogram and the denomination as a watermark. The monogram and denomination look brighter than the portrait. Fake notes do not have these features.
• Fake-note detection machines of various brands are also available at low prices, and fake notes can easily be checked with a magnifying glass. Under a magnifying glass, a counterfeit shows only a single line.

This guidance comes from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.