The Counterfeiter Classification

In our February feature on counterfeiting, Duncan Reid covered adversarial analysis. In this article he reviews the classification of counterfeiters, illustrated by case studies at each level.

Central banks and research institutions have developed categories of counterfeiters. Whilst the number of groups varies between models, they have in common a classification that takes into account the counterfeiting method, materials and equipment. This review considers four categories of banknote counterfeiters: amateur, hobbyist, professional and state sponsored.

Amateur counterfeiters – maximum reward for minimum effort

The amateur generates low quality counterfeits by photocopying or scanning and printing genuine banknotes at minimum cost for casual spending. The counterfeits generated by this group are easily detectable. This type of counterfeit is also sometimes known as ‘nuisance’ counterfeits, although when large numbers of people produce a few counterfeits, amateur counterfeiting can be disruptive.