Alpha 600sc User’s Guide
17
Using the Counterfeit Detector Feature
About Paper Money
Just because the Counterfeit detector feature shows a glowing strip does
not always mean the paper money is real. A clever forger may include this
strip in a fake bill. Always use multiple methods to decide if you want to
accept a bill as valid.
Each bill amount has a strip that glows a different color. The location of
the UV markings in US and Canadian currency is shown below:
Canadian Paper Currency: UV sensitive dots are placed in a random
pattern throughout the bill. These dots glow blue.
Detecting Suspicious Money
Always use multiple counterfeit detection methods to guard against
fraudulent paper currency. Some of the more common methods are:
• Look for blue and red threads in the fabric.
• Hold the bill up to a light source and check for the watermark - which
should be the face of the same President pictured on the front of that
denomination bill.
• Hold the bill up to a normal light source (not a UV light) and look for the
UV sensitive strip, the characters USA and the numeric denomination of
the bill (either in numeric form or spelled out)
• Mark the bill using a Universal Counterfeit Detector Pen, which uses
special ink that reacts to counterfeit paper currency
Table 5 US paper currency UV mark locations
US $ bill...
Has this color...
Located here...
$ 5
Blue
Left edge of bill
$ 10
Orange
Right of Hamilton's head
$ 20
Green
Left edge of bill
$ 50
Yellow
Right of Grant's head
$100
Red
Left of Franklin's head
