Counterfeit banknotes on the A1: drivers stop and collect them

Counterfeit banknotes on the A1: drivers stop and collect them

It's not everyday that drivers on the highway hit the brakes to pick up some banknotes. But that's exactly what happened on August 12, 2025, around 5:45 p.m., on the A1 near Seevetal in the direction of Hamburg. Numerous road users stopped after seeing the bills on the shoulder. As NDR reports, these notes were several 10 and 50 euro notes, which were, however, marked as copies and therefore had no value.

The Maschen motorway police quickly received reports from concerned drivers and dispatched emergency services to clarify the situation. No hazardous situation was identified on site and no accidents occurred. Nevertheless, some drivers were apparently too tempted to ignore the quick money. The police have seized the imitations and are now investigating how this unusual find came about.

A mysterious phenomenon

The incident leaves many questions unanswered: Who distributed the counterfeit banknotes there and for what purpose? These and other questions concern the investigators. However, according to Merkur, the investigators are still in the dark about the background to this bizarre event. Whoever is behind this action has certainly caused quite a stir.

What is particularly noteworthy is that no dangerous situations arose, despite the numerous people stopping on the motorway. The police use a warning tone and ask not to make any stops on the highway, as these can be dangerous in fast-moving traffic situations. Witnesses who have further information about the incident are urged to call (04105) 620-200.

One incident among many

This incident is not alone. Other humorous or bizarre incidents on German motorways also make headlines from time to time. Word has long since gotten around that adventurous things can happen on the side of the road. In this specific case, however, it was the unexpected “window of money” that caused astonishment. According to RTL, the action on August 9th, which encouraged just as many drivers to stop, was another bizarre reaction to the banknotes that were also discovered on the A1 at the time.

Looking back shows how powerful events, even those that represent no real value, can attract attention. However, it remains to be hoped that the perpetrators will be identified in order to prevent further strange “money rain” on the motorway.