Currency counter machines can do more than just count money. Many examples can detect counterfeit money, which is invaluable when USA Today says even unskilled counterfeiters can now make convincing-looking fakes. If you're looking for used bill counter machines, you'd be wise to research any counterfeit detection capabilities they might have.

What Are 3 Ways Currency Counter Machines Can Detect Counterfeit Money?

According to the American Numismatic Association, the Lydians invented coins more than two-and-a-half millennia ago. Since then, governments and counterfeiters have been locked in an ongoing race. Every measure has driven the development of countermeasures. As a result, used currency counter machines can have more than one of these counterfeit detection capabilities for extra reliability:

Magnetic Ink

Different ingredients give ink different properties. For instance, magnetic particles can give a magnetic field. Bills are printed using magnetic ink, so interested parties have an easy way to distinguish real money from lower-quality fakes. Unfortunately, two problems prevent this from being a perfect anti-fraud measure. First, magnetic ink degrades over time, meaning older bills can trigger false positives. Second, counterfeiters can make magnetic ink at home, thus making it harder for the authorities to track these criminals.

UV Detection

UV is a more energetic kind of electromagnetic radiation than visible light. Some materials are UV-fluorescent. Current counter machines often have UV lights for detecting counterfeits because real bills contain UV-fluorescent inks and threads. Counterfeiters can get past this anti-fraud measure. However, they might not put in the necessary time and effort for fakes meant for places that don't inspect money under UV lights.

Infrared Detection

Infrared is another kind of electromagnetic radiation. Its name means "below red" because it is weaker than visible light. Some inks can absorb infrared light, while others can reflect it. Reputedly, these inks are much more difficult for counterfeiters to make. Thanks to that, infrared detection offers more reliable results than magnetic or UV detection. The issue is that infrared detection is also more expensive. Due to this, currency counter machines tend to have magnetic or UV detection.

Further Considerations

The more you know about used currency counter machines, the better your chances of finding the one best for your organization's needs. Sometimes, you want something simple. Other times, your organization's needs are more complicated, meaning you can save money by buying something more multi-purpose. A good salesperson won't hesitate to answer any questions you might have about their used currency counter machines. You should make sure to take advantage of their expertise.