KNOW YOUR MONEY

Know Your Money Every year the public is victimized by the counterfeiting of United States currency and other U.S. obligations.

Those who fail to carefully examine the money they receive or who cash checks and bonds without requesting proper identification are potential victims. Only with the public's cooperation can the United States Secret Service reduce and prevent these crimes.

This site is designed to help you detect counterfeit currency and guard against forgery loss.


Skip Past Table of Contents

Table Of Contents

  1. History of United States Currency
  2. Characteristics of United States Paper Currency
  3. Design Features Which Vary On Genuine Currency
  4. Positions of Important Features
  5. Portraits and Back Designs on Other Paper Currency
  6. Design Features For Series 1990-1995 Issued Currency
  7. Design Features For Series 1996 Issued Currency
  8. When Money Is Damaged or Wears Out
  9. Advanced Technologies in Counterfeiting
  10. How to Detect Counterfeit Money
  11. Raised Notes
  12. Counterfeit Coins
  13. Illustration of Currency, Checks or Other Obligations
  14. Security Features of U.S. Treasury Checks
  15. Altered Government Checks
  16. If you Suspect a Note is Counterfeit
  17. It's The Law
  18. Counterfeit Note Report Download (self-executable form)

For more information on United States currency, visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing web site at http://www.moneyfactory.com/.