In the second half of last year, 2,569 counterfeit euro banknotes were reported to the Central Bank of Malta, bringing the total number of counterfeits withdrawn from circulation for the whole year to 4,930 pieces.

This also included a substantial police seizure of counterfeit notes in May, which amounted to 1,075 pieces.

When compared with the number of genuine euro banknotes in circulation in Malta – slightly above 10.97 million on average for the second half of last year – the proportion of euro counterfeits remained insignificant, the Central Bank said yesterday.

In the previous year, 1,497 pieces were withdrawn from circulation.

Of all the fake euro banknotes seized, the €20 denomination continued to be the most counterfeited denomination with 41.9 per cent of all seized counterfeits being €20 notes.

The Central Bank urged anyone who receives a suspect note to contact either the police on 2122 4001 or the Central Bank of Malta on 2550 6012/13 or on the Bank’s e-mail address at nccmt@centralbankmalta.org.

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