SOLIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY-COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY

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Examination

LESSON EIGHT: FORGERY, COUNTERFEITING AND FALSIFICATION

A. COUNTERFEITING - It is the crime of making, circulating or uttering false coins and banknotes. Literally, it means to make a copy of; or imitate;
to make a spurious semblance of, as money or stamps, with the intent to deceive or defraud. Counterfeiting is something made to imitate the
real thing used for gain.

B. FALSIFICATION – The act/process of making the content/s of a document not the intended content.

C. FORGERY – The act of falsely making or materially altering, with intent to defraud, any writing which if genuine, might be of legal efficacy or
the foundation of a legal liability.

Take Note: In forgery, every person who, with intent to defraud, signs the name of another person, or of fictitious person, knowing that he
has no authority to do so, or falsely makes, alters, forges or counterfeits any - checks, drag - due bill for the payment of money or property - or
counterfeits or forges the seal forged, or counterfeited, with intent the same to be fake, altered forged, or counterfeited, with intent to
prejudice, damage or defraud any person.... is guilty of forgery.

MAKING OF PAPER MONEY

A. ENGRAVING – It is the process by which the line to be printed are cut into pieces of metal by hand or with a machine. Ink is rubbed over the
plate to fill the cuts in the metal and the extra ink wiped-off the top. The pressure of the paper on the plate causes the ink in the holes to be
lifted on the surface of the paper. The ink lines will be felt to be raised above the surface. The engraving process is used for the production of
all genuine bank notes.

B. LETTERPRESS PRINTING – is the most common form of printing books, magazine, letterheads and the usual printing in common uses. In
the process, the letters are made on raised pieces of metal which covered with ink and then impressed upon the paper in the same form as a
rubber stamp or cliché. The serial numbers of a bank note are usually added by this letterpress process after the note has been produced by
an engraving.

C. OFFSET PRINTING – is the method a photograph is taken of the desire material and a print is made on a specially prepared aluminum plate.
The plate is kept wet with water. When ink is applied, it sticks only these parts of the plate where printing is desired. The aluminum plate is
then put in contact with rubber roller which transfers the ink to the papers. The offset process is quite used in small printing plants. Because it
was photographic process, it is the most common modern used by counterfeiter to make false paper money.

BANK NOTE PAPER

Paper bank notes get a lot of handling. If a good grade of paper is not used, they would soon wear out and have to be replaced. Even with
the best paper, the old two peso bill usually wears out and has to be replaced at the end of thirty days. Government buy the very best grade of paper
they can get, in order that the paper will last as long as possible. Special paper also makes it difficult for the counterfeiter to duplicate it. It is usually
the use of wrong paper that causes the counterfeited bank note to be detected by ultraviolet light.

Take Note: In most modern printing, papers have chemicals added to make look whiter. These chemicals cause brilliant fluorescence under
ultraviolet light. Bank notes paper does not have this filler and does not show.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GENUINE AND COUNTERFEIT PAPER NOTE/BILL

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GENUINE COUNTERFEIT
MAIN PRINT

Distinctive feel & embossed effect Generally smooth

1. The fingers will readily feel the the main print on the 1. The fingers will hardly feel the main prints of the front & back
front & back on fairly new notes. even on new notes.
2. This is due to the measurable thickness of the ink 2. This is brought about by offset print the most common
deposited on the paper which gives the prints an process employed by counterfeiters
embossed effect. 3. The prints are mere stains on the coating of the sensitized
paper which is glossy.

PORTRAIT

1. Appears life-like 1. It appears dead.

2. The eyes sparkle. 2. The eyes do not sparkle.
3. The tiny dots and lines (Vignette) forming the details 3. It appears blurred, dull, smudgy and poorly printed.
of the face, hair, etc. are clear, sharp and well 4. Hair is lifeless.
defined.
4. Each portrait stands out distinctly from background. 5. The face and/or forehead are often naturally white or pale
This is noticeable along the shoulders. due to absence of most of the details.
5. The background is composed of multi-colored fine 6. The concentric lines depicting the eyes often merged into
pattern of lines in varying tones and shades solid printed areas.
interlacing with each other. These shadings or 7. The background often blends with the portrait and is
toning are intricately printed in such a way that the usually “scratchy.”
contrast or shifting of colors creates the impression 8. The lines are thick with rough edges.
of life & vividness to the notes. 9. The multi-colored prints on genuine notes are extremely
difficult to duplicate and as a result, counterfeit notes are
usually off-color & not of the right shade or tone.

WATERMARK

1. The watermark underneath the security 1. This is imitated by printing white ink or dry block on the finished
lacework on the right hand side of the note is paper.
the same on the colored portrait.
2. The design is placed by means of dandy roll 2. Sometimes wax or other oily medium is stamped to give
during the manufacture of the paper. transparency to the portion where the designing appears.
3. Sharp details of the outline or the light & 3. Printed outline is placed on the inner sheet where merely a
shadow effect are discernible when viewed with paper cutout is placed inside. As a result course or harsh and
the aid of transmitted light. occasional irregular lines & sometimes-opaque areas are very
4. The relief of the features can be felt by running obvious.
the finger on the design.

METTALIC THREAD

1. This is a special thread placed vertically on the 1. Counterfeit by means of printing on the back of the note, on the
paper during manufacture. inner side of the paper, insertion of twin thread or simply folding
2. On the surface of the paper where this thread the note vertically where the thread appears on the genuine
is located are patterns of short vertical lines. bill.

COLORED FIBERS OR SECURITY FIBERS

1. These fibers are scattered on the surface of the On counterfeit, this is simulated by printed lines, cannot be
paper (front & back) at random & can be readily
picked off, but can be easily erased with ordinary rubber or by
picked off by means of any pointed instrument.
2. The colors of these fibers are red & blue. agitating with wet fingers.

LACEWORK DESIGN

The geometric pattern which looks like a On counterfeit, these geometric patterns are often blurred,
delicate lacework along the border on both round on the edges & blotch on the joints. Its continuity could not be
surfaces, embellishing the portraits, value panel & traced. The color appears faded.
vignettes are multicolored & composed of harp
lines, which are, continuous & traceable even at the
joints.
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COLOR OF EACH DENOMINATION

Genuine notes have polychrome background with one predominant color for each denomination. You should know whose portrait is/are
printed on each bill.
PhP 1,000.00 - Blue - Jose Abad Santos, Josefa Llanes Escoda, Vicente Lim
500.00 - Yellow - Benigno S. Aquino
200.00 - Green (Dark in one side and light in another side)
100.00 - Mauve - Manuel A. Roxas
50.00 - Red - Sergio Osmena
20.00 - Orange - Manuel L. Quezon
10.00 - Brown - Apolinario Mabini & Andres Bonifacio
5.00 - Green - Emilio Aguinaldo

SERIAL NUMBERS
1. The prefix letter/s & numbers (Six of them 1. On counterfeit, the letters & numbers are poorly printed. They
except on replacement note) are clearly are usually of different style.
printed.
2. They have peculiar style & are uniform in size 2. Most often, they are evenly spaced & poorly aligned.
& thickness.
3. Spacing of the numbers is uniform & alignment 3. The numbers are too big or too small, too thick or too thin & in
is even. certain cases shaded on the curves.

VIGNETTE
1. The lines & dots composing the vignettes are 1. On counterfeit usually dull & poorly printed.
fine, distinct & sharp.
2. The varying color tone gives a bold look to the 2. It appears dirty.
picture that makes it stands out of the paper. 3. The lines are comparatively thicker with rough edges.
4. There is no variation in color tone so that the picture appears
flat.

CLEARNESS OF PRINT

The registry of the different printed features is In general, a spurious not exhibits a Second hand look. It is
perfect. The lines are very clear & sharp. There are dirty due to the sputtering of ink on the interior area. Over-inked
no Burrs clinging to the sides. areas are visible instantly. The shadings & ornamentations of the
letters & figures are thick & usually merged.

EXAMINATION OF SUSPECTED COUNTERFEIT BANKNOTE

1. As well as inspection under ultraviolet light, the investigator should look at the banknote with a hand lens.
2. He should pay particular attention to the quantity of the portrait in the bank note. This is the one extremely fine detail of a good engraved
plate.
3. The color of the ink should be compared with the color of a genuine banknote. It is very difficult for counterfeiter to match exactly the same
shade of ink by a genuine manufacturer.