Former Secret Service Agent Explains How to Detect Counterfeit Money | Tradecraft | WIRED

Former Secret Service Agent Jonathan Wackrow explains how the Service keeps counterfeit currency out of circulation. The Secret Service was installed to combat counterfeit money during the Civil War, and the Service still to this day works tirelessly to suppress counterfeits. Counterfeiting has been a tactic used to try to destabilize the US economy for years, and the Secret Service employs a variety of techniques to detect fraudulent bills. Jonathan goes through some publicly available techniques that they, and anyone else, can use to figure out if a bill is real or fake.
Wackrow served in the Presidential Protection Division in Washington, DC, and managed numerous high-level security operations in the U.S. and abroad.
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Former Secret Service Agent Explains How to Detect Counterfeit Money | Tradecraft | WIRED

[@JosephSpadafino]

If this is what they're telling us, it's actually way more advanced.

[@tonyhong20]

yep and the guy in the video also said that some features remain classified

[@PrograError]

@@tonyhong20 like the Euro marks? which they showed very briefly and which is why you can't open a scanned file of a note with that mark...

[@PrograError]

@Taran Ainsley do some research, this is youtube comments not a spoon

[@callumwalters3935]

@@PrograError the comments section is too discuss topics and ask questions you absolute Muppet

[@midnoob1650]

@@PrograError is it in link with the KZbin video of the guy who tried to copy a bill with a printer?

[@chrislanejones]

1. Never counterfeit US Notes 2. Make counterfeits of another countries notes that have less counterfeit protections. 3. Exchange them for US notes.

[@AmanAli-dq4xi]

Chris Lane Jones You’re definitely on a list.

[@giornogiovanna2382]

Now this is good

[@alexg1693]

stonks

[@betomedina7800]

BIG BRAIN

[@b_f_d_d]

*Yes OFFICER this comment right here*

[@AwkwardYet]

counterfeiters: write that down! write that down!

[@TheMightyProdigy]

Useless if they can't replicate it.

[@Ghost19_]

@@TheMightyProdigy or they really cannot replicate it at all! The number codes used per paper bill is 1:1 - if they saw another copy, it's already a dead give away~

[@sh0ryualfa393]

*unintelligible noises while playing tic tac toe*

[@suomynona]

lel

[@gomezmario.f]

Secret service's job description is very weird.. one: protect the president two: make sure no fake money is circulating.

[@aaronquevedo9099]

Not only the president, but also the vice president, the president's and VP's families, presidential candidates, and former presidents.

[@aced9852]

Not really...every other agency handles multiple tasks

[@MrJlee93]

It's really obvious, they tell you in history class in high school

[@gomezmario.f]

@@aced9852 I mean its very unrelated..

[@papalareis4389]

Actually, it’s swapped. Counterfeits is one

[@sergeantpickles4202]

Can’t wait to be briefly extremely interested in something I never cared about before like I am with all these videos lol

[@ANgElzfan1]

This👆🏼🤣💯

[@annettegonzales7207]

What we all want to know is what are the security features which are secret but discovered??

[@h8GW]

Hello fellow ADD sufferer!

[@KimberlyGreen]

With physical currency use declining, I wonder if that makes the Service's job easier or harder.

[@PrograError]

actually way harder as it's near in traceable online, but with right crypto, it's alright in terms of paper trails...

[@TheUnlocked]

Almost certainly easier. All banks which are authorized to process US currency are required to do meticulous accounting on it daily. Because such a high proportion of currency is digital, it's just a lot harder to print enough counterfeit notes to actually devalue the dollar. Things like cryptocurrency are not US currency and behave more like a foreign currency or stocks.

[@Acteaon]

Or even necessary...?

[@minecraftminertime]

@@TheUnlocked A high proportion of currency being digital does not make it harder to print counterfeit notes. That does not make sense.

[@demonman1234]

@@TheUnlocked I mean what about btc? It's really hard to trace, which would make their life harder to catch criminals the majority of which will use btc. One stupid criminal if you go through a normal bank.

[@DanielRieger]

3:36 counterfeiters don't.................. necessarily

[@fm.s07]

Bruh but a gas station clerk ain’t gonna check this

[@Lucas-ix5td]

Yeah but he's going to deposit it in the bank, then it gets detected can get traced back to the producer.

[@reggin_spelt_backwards]

There is a small amount of cloth fibres in each bill. Its not 100% paper. Thats where it gets really tricky to replicate

[@TruthTroubadour-xi9cc]

It's not paper at all. It's cotton/linen, and that's why it doesn't disentigrate in the washing machine.

[@DirtyFan2]

It’s pretty easy actually you fool

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

I see they’ve been detecting our money

[@mariogonzalez4928]

Kim Jong-un what are your thoughts on Russia?

[@kyiusmourad50]

Shrek thats what i was wondering

[@basedkorean6237]

Fake

[@mat5473]

The interesting thing is that although you might think it was so much easier to counterfeit bills back in the day because they had way fewer security features, in effect that is somewhat balanced out by the comparative lack of access to technology they would have had. It really makes it lot harder to counterfeit when consumer printers aren't a thing. Still, it's probably much harder today anyways. I think there was probably a sweet spot for counterfeiting when the equipment to do it was widely available, but the security hadn't caught up yet. Probably in the 1990's.

[@yeungscs]

Late 90s and early 2000s when consumers had access to high-DPI printers. It's probably not worth it these days due to digitization.

[@lukewilly6969]

the crazy thing is old bills are still legal tender so why wont they print older bills?

[@FinancialShinanigan]

I hear all the counterfeiters taking notes.

[@Crionym]

more like making notes

[@ncsmith1952]

You and I and Joe Q. Public don't know this stuff, but I bet most counterfeiters already do. Generally, they don't have to make notes that will completely fool the Secret Service, but rather good enough to fool you and I and Joe Q. Public.

[@beepbeepcasucha]

nice. None of the puns I've *chequed* out in the comments have matched up to this one

[@Fabian__.]

That’s crazy anymore tips just curious?👀

[@pattylease2969]

Wet towel dabbed onto counterfeit bills will separate the ink layers and smear them.

[@alfrredd]

more tips so you can improve the counterfeits??

[@pattylease2969]

Lol no.

[@cvspvr]

@@pattylease2969 that's easily fixed by using a different ink to make counterfeit money

[@TheWidowmaker430]

Every bill has micro writing $1 to $100

[@-.._.-_...-_.._-..__..._.-.-.-]

US currency used to be a coupon that you could exchange at the bank for gold. The US couldn't print more money then it actually had in the gold reserves. But that changed, and US currency is now just a social construct.

[@jessepaz2346]

I’ve been a Teller for a long time and came here hoping to find out something new but I did not, but for people who don’t know these things, it’s very useful information!

[@thecloneguyz]

A uv light has NEVER been defeated in counterfeits yet!

[@makatron]

@@thecloneguyz that we know of, remember only if they fail you'll know.

[@brennakobes6852]

I’m also a teller!

[@tachyondecay]

Cool. Now do one about the security features on polymer-based notes used in other countries, please!

[@RadDadisRad]

3:47 gave me goosebumps, I wouldn’t want to be around that amount of money because I’d be afraid of what someone would do to take it.

[@alysiamerdavid-wasser9165]

Same. There are some ppl🙋 who always cleave toward the middle class bc too much money makes us nervous. In the 90s, I had my hubcaps stolen, never replaced them, & just sighed with relief that they wouldn't be stolen again, lol.

[@nicotti]

It wouldn't bother me. In my mind that money and the money in my pocket are two different things. It's basically the same as a job working with sensitive database data.

[@alysiamerdavid-wasser9165]

@@nicotti Ohhhh!! LOL!! 😂 I misread your post. I thought you meant PERSONALLY.. Yea, I agree with you! I've never worked in a bank or a convenience store: too scared of robbers!!

[@sarikatimmi]

i was a teller. it’s weird bc it just seems like monopoly money to you. you don’t think of it as real-you forget that people will try to take it. in the case shown in the vid they are under so much protection, unlike in banks.

[@robertschlesinger1342]

Very interesting. I prefer to use $20s as if they are counterfeit, the loss is trivial. If I have a pile of bad $100s, the loss is significant.

[@jonathanwilliams1065]

A classified security feature is useless My job is to handle said currency and not accept fakes, if I am not allowed to know what I’m looking for then I won’t be able to spot fakes

[@AriesExtras]

3:47 look at all that money

[@dancingdiva90950]

I knew we weren't gonna learn all the secrets or any of the guarded ones. But I was hoping for some history in either counterfeiting or how the dollar art has evolved a little.

[@MKurrPhoto]

Interesting video, interestingly famous counterfeit is often more valuable to collectors than the real thing....

[@cash_eye]

Announcement: "Catch me if you can"

[@onlyonemrxonlyonemry306]

Thanks for the Tips

[@atreestump]

Thanks for that, can we have more?

[@autonomous8108]

I'm just a cashier lookin for ways to find fake bills. I wasn't expecting this to run so deep lol

[@ticnatz]

I want to know why the US still insists on having bills that are all the same size.

[@jgeoc1055]

As a guess, this is probably so producing & processing the money is easier, you don't have to have separate channels for different size notes, instead the size would be uniform to make life easier

[@snazzypazzy]

@@jgeoc1055 And visually impared people?

[@ElusiveTy]

Most countries have bills that are all the same size... That's standard.

[@ticnatz]

@@ElusiveTy Yes, but most countries are not the US. Who traffics in counterfeit Dominican pesos?

[@nightstorm9872]

Next time you spend money ask the place if they take "Federal Reserve Notes", most will say no. Also try to spend $2 bills, lot of people don't know these exist.

[@SofaKingAwesome23]

thank u.. now i know what to update on my next batch

[@austinhubbard96]

how is he not talking about the easiest and most obvious way of detection, the ridges on the coats. pretty much impossible to fake and checkable in seconds with no lights or pens needed.

[@abigailr3250]

sorry i'm dumb, are you talking about the textured shirts on each portrait?

[@vaclavjebavy5118]

@@abigailr3250 yeah i wanna know

[@NobleTenz]

@@abigailr3250 I thinkkkk when u use ur finger nails and scratch across horizontally on the bill, u will feel ridges or friction

[@BA3942]

One thing I didn't see mentioned that I saw in person at a local diner was that a $100 bill has a small sleeve in the break of the holographic strip that you slip a toothpick through, and you can see it in this video cause that part is thicker and the backlight doesn't shine through as much. I'm not sure if it is also present on higher denominations.

[@Strothy2]

yes yes tell me more...

[@phanhoabinh1207]

yes yes tell me more...

[@jamescooper3324]

One of the tellers at the bank I do deposits for told me that if you scratch the suit of the portrait on the bill and you feel the bumpy texture, then it’s genuine. Good trick and works every time as opposed to pens that can be fooled

[@ThatShyGuyMatt]

I assume anyone could possibly make accurate ones if they wanted, but the fact it's so complex means its overly time consuming and that's why people give up. I still see people who sometimes get fake bills (whether given to them for something) and then they use it at the store only for it to happen to be checked and thus denied. If every person that got money would be forced to check the bills, it would make things way easier. Granted that would be time consuming to having to check every single bill. Though logically they only ever check big bills since those are likely to be forged rather than small ones.

[@treatb09]

I expect the hologram strip to be more than just a pretty blue novelty. I imagine it can be laser scanned or has a type of blue ray lattice for encoding data that would be extraordinarily difficult for someone to fake. And its encrypted too.

[@olliestevens754]

0:38 is that John Wilkes booth?

[@noobattempts]

Also if you feel the president's jacket on the bill it has a slightly different texture

[@Owlettehoo]

I'm a typesetter, I create forms to be mass printed. Checks oftentimes will have microprinting on them as well. Usually on the authorized signature line and/or endorsement line on the back. Most of the checks I make are very basic, though, and microprinting is literally the only security feature on them. We used to do checks that had temperature sensitive ink on one spot, but we had to buy the paper specifically already made like that and it was very expensive with a super low profit margin, if there was any profit at all, so we gave that job to another company. Lol

[@rnickel123]

Checks also have MICR

[@Owlettehoo]

@@rnickel123 Yea. I never really counted that among the security features, though. A lot of banks won't check to make sure the ink is magnetic, anymore (ya know, with mobile deposits being a thing now). My boss was complaining one time that he still had to buy magnetic ink for checks, *just in case*, because it's more expensive. Because they would be the ones in trouble if the customer started having checks rejected because that *one* bank did check it.

[@vesperone3905]

I'm taking notes

[@mobilemowers]

I wonder if any counterfeiters actually watched this to learn something ?

[@TediTheGodfather]

I used to do tech support for Brother International printers. A lot of printer manufacturers have set up their on board software to reject scanning US bills. I’m not sure how, but my supervisor demonstrated it during training. Once scanned, depending on the age of the printer, it’ll either show completely black or stop scanning altogether.

[@neonglowmusic]

Not only US bills, but nearly all currency in the world. Paper currency has an arrangement of dots or stars in the shape of the Orion constellation. When a printer detects Orion, it won't print.

[@drakebrodsky8750]

Easily bypassed with a separate driver lol (not that I would know, of course....just a guess)

[@krystianzajda]

I prefer the Euro it is more colourful and the dollars are just green

[@Ryptahi]

Actually not anymore, they are different colors now so they have become easier.

[@fuckheinschitt239]

Dollar is just a simple but good looking

[@wdisneyw71]

The Fed is doing that a million times over every day.

[@gzer0x]

Taking a tour of the Fed is trippy AF. They like literally just recognize currency in weights and time to process rather than amounts XD

[@fluffypinkpandas]

When the gov is raising inflation and making the dollar worthless but yells at you for doing the same

[@GoldsPersonal]

I feel like they focused on small random things instead of the obvious things you check. I've worked in a bank for a couple years and all the counterfeits I've seen are super obvious.

[@VarenRoth]

Wouldn't that be why you spotted them in the first place? :D

[@TechnMoto]

Good to know

[@garybyrne2605]

For more on the History of the Secret Service, Please read Secrets of the Secret Service, By Gary J Byrne.

[@BowlofIndoMee]

Reminded me of the movie Project Gutenberg

[@AnselZeng]

Someone fix his tie pls

[@themerovingian3288]

0:40 I swear I saw Abraham Lincoln

[@demonman1234]

You did

[@wiktorjachyra1869]

So the small text is a security feature but you told us about it on a KZbin video🧐🧐

[@davidjohnston3954]

Yes u don't ever make one it's wrong to do. U can buy on line don't forget to not use them ever

[@specialagentblog4474]

Secret Service is well respected as the best protective agency in the world. Great career choice for those interested in federal law enforcement.

[@rinatgaliev7345]

Exciting, cab help

[@Honestcritic79]

Government: we need to print money to help stimulate the economy. Also, Government: Do not print fake money to use in the economy.

[@cristianmedico2476]

I have cought fake 20 dollars bills by the sound of the paper, for me has worked all the time.

[@grumpyguy2877]

Canada 🇨🇦 uses polymer paper when they started using it counterfeits dropped of 74%

[@purplemartinracingteam1750]

what is the best way to detect for a small retailer?

[@Phoenix_of_Sun]

For all those saying counterfeiters are writing this stuff down, I mean they publicly disclose everything he said right here: www.secretservice.gov/data/KnowYourMoney.pdf

[@WilsonTrades]

to 'the economy' the only difference between counterfeit notes and the fed reserve printing notes is the legality. both notes are intrinsically worth nothing and slowly undermine the purchasing power of you and I year after year :)

[@treatb09]

Counterfeiting is such an interesting thing. You would need all sorts of technology to fake a bill. To an extent it becomes real. Or you get good enough that its not able to be detected for a long time.

[@gladousg9123]

And about the little strip inside the money? Barely visible on the right ride of the bill? What does that partake?

[@Sol17Opacus]

Really surprised he didn't talk about jacket textures on denominations $5 and larger. Are counterfeiters able to replicate this now?

[@sgt.johndoe4467]

Use polymer like Canadian. It will be at least 10x harder to counterfeit it.

[@yellowbelly7863]

I need to show this to my coworkers 🤔

[@davidsandoval5018]

I'm assuming that the texture on their shirts is a secret one?

[@Richard-oz1vx]

I need a money priting machine..lol

[@josephfield6903]

3:47 💲💲💲

[@maximdupuis9664]

In your essay replace money by federal reserve note

[@candyyy6495]

Someone at CVS got caught with counterfeit money

[@DodgeWatt]

Why they still use paper ill never know...

[@Ryptahi]

It is more pleasant in hand. Plastic notes are being used in many countries, but they have very different feel to them

[@douglascornett6605]

It’s because of durability. The test several materials and use what lasts the longest. Saves the treasury money in the long run.

[@DodgeWatt]

@@Ryptahi Feel should have nothing to do with it, its security that matters.

[@DodgeWatt]

@@douglascornett6605 It really doesn't the US mint loses money a lot, and the plastic notes are more secure and probably cheaper.

[@django07000]

Put the money in the bag

[@preciousj6931]

Detected many and returned it to the customer for a different form of payment

[@miksava]

Cool! Now going to print out a few dollar bills.😀

[@nolanstauffer9405]

There are other things that they don't tell you

[@MrBignick88]

polymer bank notes harder to fake and still intact if they go through the washing machine

[@rosiejones2079]

I think I'm blessed because if not I wouldn't have met someone who is as spectacular as expert Mrs Lucy Mary Liam

[@hamlucas2467]

Wow I'm just shocked someone mentioned expert Mrs Lucy Mary Liam I thought I'm the only one trading with her

[@bryan0359]

@@hamlucas2467 You don't need to be shocked I'm also a huge beneficiary of her trading, she has been handling my account for months now

[@mavelldenis307]

Mrs Lucy Mary Liam is legit and reliable sometimes I wonder if she uses finger magic to trade

[@awermabil7309]

Ever since I lost my job with the ministry I have been surviving through my investment with Mrs Lucy Mary Liam, I'm so glad I invested when I did

[@maxwellkaterina7563]

I met her in a conference in Washington DC and after her speech I was opportune to meet her and I started investing, I'm happy today because of expert Mrs Lucy Mary Liam

[@lifeofshawn134]

I've seen good counterfeits before of $20s and $100s and I can always tell right away when money is fake. Looks... odd feels completely different. I think its becouse I see so much real money everyday.

[@411Adidas]

Not everyone printing bills are trying to undermine the country. Some ppl do it because they are poor and dont have money. Some do it as a challenge to see if they are good enough at their skill. Not everyones out to get you man, jeez

[@brendadavis4923]

The effect is all the same either way.

[@nicotti]

This video was too short. Can you expand on the topic please?

[@eliew.1814]

Imagine not having waterproof money. 🍁

[@Divinelydestiny]

The atm wouldn’t take my $100 bill but after watching this I’m sure it’s genuine it just has a small rip on it so that’s probably what was denied by the sensor.

[@ShapezPuller64]

Laid the star spangled mood music pretty heavy in that outro - you guys alright? They didn't force your production teams to reaffirm their pledge to the flag to make this, did they?

[@LukeL007]

I wager that the ink contains an unusual concentration of nonradioactive isotopes that would not occur in a typical ink. Remember the FBI has a database of every ink that is used in commercial products in the US.

[@Margo-No-T]

I'm a cashier so this is neat!

[@pangtundure]

What about starch level ?

[@robertagore9668]

I got a worthless counterfeit bill... don't want to do that again...

[@pureheartx141]

The people who disliked, got caught trying to use counterfeit money

[@ryantapley6844]

Step 1: Use Polymer notes like Australia ✔️

[@nebas.7074]

Fastest way to find out is to use counterfeit pen 👍👍👍

[@rafaelgabrielsantos1246]

Gold and silver are the assets of the future

[@onemanenclave]

Well, thank you for explaining the features I should make sure the counterfeit bills I'm making have.

[@stormtrooper8470]

What I’m hearing is counterfeit bills lower than 20

[@demonman1234]

No, he said even ones have some sort of identifier to make it hard to counterfeit

[@chrisramos2979]

The ones that say I9 , A1 , L12, & C3

[@jacklaw8209]

Just do what we Australians did, plastic bills with clear windows in the corner and through the middle of the bill

[@MaximusDC406]

Older bills still circulating tho

[@thecloneguyz]

NOONE HAS FOOLED A UV LIGHT YET!

[@Ryptahi]

Yes they have, its uncommon but they have. Most get them almost correct, but not quite so they are caught pretty fast

[@GoodWithHands27]

but can he answer why does a penny cost more to make than what it is worth?

[@invox9490]

I'm taking notes! For... academic purposes, of course.

[@coollobsterr]

You know you cannot clearly scan bank notes on regular scanner or edit a bank note image on regular Photoshop app? Now you do.

[@JAS0N_M00RE]

We should have an all Coin Money coins last longer and it will save on paper and Ink Coins might cost more to make but they last longer than paper money making it worth making at least small Vaule coins like $1,$2,$3,$4,$5 they made $1 coins before why not others unless they use to years ago