absolutelyBangkok archive · Business & Economics
Originally published Dec. 18, 2008
+++ Update: In a comment below a reader clarified that both banknotes shown below are correct. The fakes seem to be based though on the “old” design. Watch out for this: “The fake notes are printed on paper, not material. The color runs when the bank note is placed in water. The metalic strip doesn’t feel like a metalic strip. You cannot see the water mark when held up to the light.”
Anyway, there may be a variety of fakes out there. I don’t think that fakers are that dumb to just use paper and non-water-resistant color. If you want to be on the safe side, only go for the newer design. Illustration below was sent to me by a reliable source. While Bank of Thailand has a Feel-Look-Tilt test and explains counterfeits of the older and the revised versions.
Watch out, you could be a criminal. By handing out one of those counterfeit 1,000 baht banknotes circulating in considerable masses during these harder days. That’s right. You may have some in your purse. The user of such banknotes will be subject to a maximum of 15 years behind bars and a maximum fine of 30,000 baht.
The Bangkok of Thailand meanwhile warned the public to watch out for those fake banknotes because during the first eleven months of this year, the bank has already retrieved nearly 19,000 counterfeit banknotes, worth 12.3 million baht, from circulation. This is an 80% increase from the same period last year.
Now why doesn’t this come as a surprise. Considering the rise of thefts and general state of mind in the land of the ambiguous smiles. Watch out for those 1,000 baht bills — details below. Or hide that brand new super-duper laser printer you just bought in a safer place. Who would hold it against you. Necessity’s the mother of many a valuable thing.
By the way, if you’re clever enough you can use the counterfeit bills to pay for counterfeit stuff readily available around here, just to mention DVDs, watches, girls and bags. Don’t double negatives make a positive?
Here’s an illustration of the obvious differences between the old and new series (and not of reals and fakes as claimed earlier on…):
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