Counterfeit money scandal in Hameln: Police strike!

Counterfeit money scandal in Hameln: Police strike!

In Hameln, a 31-year-old man from Hessisch Oldendorf was recently caught trying to pay with counterfeit money in a restaurant. This is reported by the Dewezet. An alert employee noticed that the 50 euro note was not real and promptly alerted the police. During a subsequent inspection, it quickly became clear that the man was not just dealing with a counterfeit note - there was also additional counterfeit money in the four-digit value range in his wallet.

But that's not all: a search of his apartment uncovered even more counterfeit money, which was in the five-figure range. The man now has to answer for “placing counterfeit money on the market”, but was released after police investigations were completed. The police authorities advise caution when handling cash and recommend that suspicious banknotes are not simply returned but rather handed over to the police.

Counterfeit money crime – an old phenomenon

Counterfeit money has a long history and is almost as old as money itself. This emphasizes this Federal Criminal Police Office. Cash is not just a simple means of payment - it also reflects the economic, political and cultural aspects of a state. Combating counterfeit money crime not only protects the currency, but also the values ​​associated with it. Counterfeiting is an international criminal offense, as set out in Section 146 of the Criminal Code, and provides for a prison sentence of at least two years for commercial perpetrators.

It is important to note that counterfeits are often difficult to spot. Security features such as holograms or watermarks can be imitated because counterfeiters do not have the means to match the quality of the original. As a rule, higher denominations are easier to counterfeit than smaller denominations. Nevertheless, most counterfeits can be recognized even by laypeople by paying attention and checking several security features.

Current figures on counterfeit money crime

The German Bundesbank has published new data on counterfeit euro banknotes. This survey, which runs from 2005 to 2024, shows how counterfeit money statistics in payment transactions have developed in Germany. The data can be via Statista can be viewed. Such information is of particular importance considering that counterfeiters are constantly trying to develop new methods to improve the quality of their counterfeits.

In view of all these aspects, the police appeal to citizens: A keen eye and a critical look at banknotes can help protect yourself from counterfeit money. Counterfeit money is not a marginal problem – it affects us all!