The Risks Around Generic Security Features

One increasingly common counterfeit technique is harvesting – the act of taking a security feature from a lower value object and incorporating it into a counterfeit banknote of higher value. There are several ways to minimise harvesting, including making each security feature bespoke.

Simple security threads for lower value denominations can be made bespoke with the incorporation of denomination specific letters, numbers and symbols. They also have protection from the inherent security that comes from being embedded in the paper – any attempts to remove a thread and use with a higher value banknote can typically be seen upon closer inspection.

Resilience through customisation

For higher value banknotes it enhances the resilience of the security thread if the custom nature of the thread is more obvious. This may include the incorporation of bespoke images into the thread or ensuring the effects follow the contours of a unique symbol that is relevant to the banknote denomination (for instance a star shape that expands or contracts).