The German Bundesbank reports a drop in counterfeiting activity.
In 2025, nearly 68 000 counterfeit euro banknotes were identified in the national payments system, a 6.1 % decline from the previous year, the bank announced on Friday. The resulting damage was around €4 million, roughly 11 % less than the €4.5 million recorded in 2024. The lower loss figure is mainly due to a noticeable reduction in forgeries of the €100 and €200 notes, explains Burkhard Balz, a board member responsible for cash.
Despite the decline, counterfeit circulation remains low. Statistically, 2025 saw eight forged notes per 10 000 residents. A substantial share of the counterfeits were “very easy to spot” as they often carried labels such as “MovieMoney” or “Prop copy” and lacked any semblance of security features. A new trend is that simple forgeries are now also targeting €50 notes, whereas earlier most were directed at €10 and €20 notes. However, vigilance is required across all denominations.
Counterfeit coins likewise fell. In 2025 the Bundesbank removed about 128 100 fake coins, a 9.3 % decrease from the 141 300 reported in 2024. That amounts to roughly 15 counterfeit coins per 10 000 residents. The fakes appeared only in the three highest denominations: €2, €1, and 50‑cent coins.