Less counterfeit money discovered in Germany in 2025
In Germany, the likelihood of being passed counterfeit money has decreased after the number of counterfeit notes fell again last year for the first time in three years, following a period of sometimes sharp increases.
Police, retailers and banks seized 67,963 counterfeit euro banknotes in 2025, which is 6.1% less than in 2024, the Bundesbank reported on Friday.
Statistically, this equates to eight counterfeit notes per 10,000 inhabitants. Across European payment transactions, a total of 444,000 fake euro notes appeared last year, 110,000 fewer than in 2024.
In relation to Germany, however, it was still the second-largest amount of counterfeit money seized since 2017.
Consumers should therefore remain vigilant, especially as counterfeiters focus on particularly common notes like the €20 and €50. These notes frequently change hands, and when someone receives a €20 note as change, they often do not check its authenticity very closely.
Less damage from counterfeit euro notes
Overall, counterfeiters in Germany caused around €4 million ($4.71 million) in damage with counterfeit euro notes last year, compared to €4.5 million in 2024.
“The significantly lower damage sum is due to a noticeable decline in the counterfeiting of €100 and €200 banknotes,” explained Bundesbank board member Burkhard Balz.
Some businesses do not accept €100 or €200 notes at all, or scrutinize these denominations particularly closely.
On a European level, the damage in 2025 was €22.2 million, below the previous year’s figure of €26.2 million.
