The number of counterfeit euro banknotes reported to the Central Bank of Malta in the second half of last year amounted to 874, practically the same amount as in the first half of the year.

This brought the total number of counterfeits withdrawn from circulation for the whole of 2013 to 1,751, 5.2 per cent more than in the 2012.

The following table shows the situation in Malta since the country adopted the euro in 2008. Last year's figure for counterfeits was 27.7 per cent lower than the 2010 peak.

When compared with the number of genuine euro banknotes in circulation in Malta (slightly above 15.5 million on average for the second half of 2013), the proportion of euro counterfeits remained insignificant.

It was also very low when compared to the number of counterfeits seized in the euro area in the same period, which according to the ECB’s press release issued yesterday, amounted to 353,000 pieces.

In line with developments in the euro area as a whole, the middle denominations (€20, €50 and €100) continued to be the most counterfeited denominations found locally, amounting to 95.4 per cent of all counterfeits.

This following table provides a percentage breakdown, by denomination, of the total number of counterfeits withdrawn from local circulation in the second half of 2013 compared to the euro area.

The Central Bank advised the public to remain alert with regard to the banknotes received in cash transactions. Genuine banknotes could be easily recognised using the simple “feel-look-tilt” test.

In case of doubt, a suspect banknote should be compared directly with one that was known to be genuine.

Anyone who suspected that they might have received a counterfeit should contact the police on 2122 4001 or the Central Bankon 2550 6012/13, e-mail: nccmt@centralbankmalta.org .