The Bank of Portugal (BdP) announced that it had withdrawn from circulation a total of 10,732 counterfeit euro banknotes in 2022, 1% less than the 10,836 of the previous year and representing 2.86% of the seizures in the Eurosystem.
Last year, the 10-euro denomination was the most seized in Portugal, and not the 20-euro denomination, as in previous years. There were 3533 counterfeit 10-euro notes and 3367 20-euro notes seized, which compares to 3347 and 4324, respectively, in 2021.
As for the 50-euro denomination, 2220 notes were withdrawn (1672 in 2021), followed by the 100-euro denomination, of which 947 notes were seized in 2022, compared to 474 the previous year.
The 500-euro denomination was the fifth most seized last year (243 notes, compared to 118 in 2021), followed by the five-euro denomination (235 notes in 2022 compared to 830 the previous year), and finally the 200-euro denomination (187 notes in 2022 and 71 notes in 2021).
Pointing out that “seized counterfeits can be identified using the ‘Touch – Look – Tilt’ method,” the BdP warns that it is important for users to check banknotes when they receive them.
“A counterfeit is not refunded, which implies a loss for the person who receives it,” he warns.
