BI states counterfeit money in Bogor is of low quality

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Bank Indonesia (BI) has stated that the counterfeit money uncovered by the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of Metro Jaya Police in Bogor, West Java, on Monday (30/3), is of low quality.

“Based on Bank Indonesia’s initial examination of the evidence samples, it has been identified that the evidence consists of counterfeit money with very low quality, which is very easy to identify with the naked eye using the 3D method (Look, Feel, and Tilt),” said the Director of the Currency Management Department of Bank Indonesia, Budi Sudaryono, during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Budi stated that the counterfeit money was printed using ordinary printing techniques with regular printers, with no security features successfully replicated, such as security threads, watermarks, electrotype, and blind code.

“Therefore, it can be said that this counterfeit money is of very low quality, similar to findings in previous cases,” he said.

Bank Indonesia is ready to support the National Police in conducting further research on all the suspected counterfeit money evidence.

“In line with international best practices, Bank Indonesia continues to strive to enhance the quality of Rupiah currency as part of a preemptive strategy in combating counterfeit money, so that the Rupiah design becomes easier to recognise and more difficult to counterfeit,” he said.

Budi also encouraged the public to recognise the authenticity features of Rupiah notes and urged them to verify the authenticity of Rupiah using the 3D method, accompanied by strengthened coordination with all elements of the Counterfeit Rupiah Coordination Agency (Botasupal) in preventing and eradicating counterfeit money.

“Bank Indonesia urges the public to always take care of and maintain Rupiah currency properly so that its authenticity is easier to recognise,” he said.

To that end, Budi reminded the public to always apply the five ‘Don’ts’: Don’t fold, Don’t scribble, Don’t staple, Don’t crumple, and Don’t wet.