Be Careful When Exchanging 100 Dollars: Ukrainians Warned About Possible Problems.

Ukrainians have been urged to be cautious when exchanging dollars and what to pay attention to.

This was reported by 'Khvylia'.

When exchanging dollars, you should be careful, especially when it comes to 100-dollar bills. Many Ukrainians keep their savings in this currency and regularly exchange hryvnias for dollars.

The safest way to exchange is through official banks, where the authenticity of banknotes is carefully checked. However, there is a risk of encountering fraudsters, especially when exchanging in unofficial places - on the streets, markets, or near train stations, where there may be attempts to sell counterfeit notes.

According to the National Bank’s data for the first half of 2024, the number of counterfeit banknotes has indeed increased, affecting both the national currency (hryvnia) and dollars. However, the National Bank assesses this increase as moderate - currently about 3.4 counterfeit banknotes are detected per million genuine ones. Interestingly, this is actually below the pre-war level when the rate was 7.1 counterfeits per million banknotes.

Of all counterfeit currencies, the US dollar is most frequently faked, especially the 100-dollar bills. When exchanging, it is important to remember that there are currently two types of 100-dollar bills in circulation: old and new designs.

Main features of the authenticity of a 100-dollar bill:

• The watermark - this is one of the key protection elements that is clearly visible when viewing the banknote against the light. It should be clear and integrated into the structure of the paper.
• The security holographic ribbon on new banknotes (after 2013) - an important detail that is integrated into the banknote’s structure, not glued on.
• 'Bell in the inkwell' - a special element that exists only on new banknotes. When tilted, the bill changes its color, serving as an additional protection against counterfeiting.
• The quality of the paper and printing also matters: genuine banknotes are printed on thick paper with noticeable relief.
• The microprint is distributed over the entire surface of the banknote - these are small inscriptions that can be seen upon careful inspection.

The described signs are a basic set available for verification by any person without special equipment. It is enough to carefully examine the banknote and check it tactilely.

Banks and specialized institutions use more complex verification methods using special equipment that can detect additional protective elements. Therefore, exchanging currency at official banking institutions is the safest - a comprehensive check of the authenticity of banknotes is conducted there.

As a reminder, a banker predicted what to expect from the dollar exchange rate at the beginning of the year.