A total of 1,751 counterfeit euro notes were withdrawn from circulation in 2013, just over five per cent more than in the previous year, the Central Bank said.

The figure is roughly in line with previous years except for 2010, when the amount shot up to 2,423 before declining again the following year.

The €20, €50 and €100 notes continued to be the most counterfeited notes found locally, amounting to 95.4 per cent of all counterfeits.

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, amounted to 353,000.

The Central Bank advised the public to remain alert. In case of doubt, a suspect banknote should be compared directly with one that was known to be genuine.

Anyone who suspects they might have received a counterfeit should contact the police on 2122 4001 or the Central Bank on 2550 6012/3.

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