Guide to Detecting Counterfeit Singapore Dollar (SGD)

How to Identify Counterfeit SGD (S$) Currency Notes

When you’re planning an international trip, things like tickets, hotels, and itineraries usually top the list. But here’s one thing most travelers forget to check: how to avoid getting scammed with fake currency. Yes, even in well-regulated countries like Singapore, counterfeit Singapore dollars (SGD) do find their way into circulation, especially if you’re exchanging money at shady counters or with unlicensed vendors. Hence, it's worth knowing how to tell a real note from a fake one.

Key Security Features of Singapore Dollar Bank Notes

The current series of Singapore Dollar banknotes, known as the Portrait Series, includes denominations of S$2, S$5, S$10, S$50, and S$100. Singapore began introducing polymer versions of the Portrait Series notes in 2004, starting with the S$10 denomination as a trial. Following the successful trial, the MAS also released polymer versions of the S$2, S$5, and S$10 notes for general circulation. The higher denominations (S$50 and S$100) in the Portrait Series still remain only as paper notes. Note that the S$1, S$20, S$25, S$500, S$1,000, and S$10,000 Singapore notes have been discontinued and are no longer issued, but still remain legal tender, so security checks of high-value denominations are equally important.

The Portrait Series incorporates a range of security features such as:

Portrait and Highlight Watermark:

For a paper note, when held up to the light, a multi-tone watermark of Encik Yusof bin Ishak, Singapore's first president, is visible. Below the portrait watermark on the front of the note is a monotone highlight watermark. For polymer notes, a watermark-like image of Encik Yusof bin Ishak is visible on the left-hand side of the note when the note is held up to the light.

Security Thread:

A windowed machine-readable thread is interwoven vertically into the paper. When held up to the light, it appears as a continuous, bold line and shows a series of microtext featuring the denomination numeral and the word "SINGAPORE" in the four official languages. A security thread in the shape of the Singapore island is embedded within the polymer substrate for the polymer notes.

Perfect Registration:

Perfect registration refers to precise printing techniques to ensure that design elements on the front and back of the note align perfectly when viewed against the light. On the banknotes, the Singapore Lion symbol is printed on both the front and the back of the note in a specific location near the shadow image (watermark-like image). This is present on both types of SGD banknotes.

Intaglio Microtext:

The text "MONETARY AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE" is in micro-letters above the four official languages of the word "SINGAPORE" on the front of the note (both paper and polymer). To the unaided eye, this appears as a single line, but the details can be seen legibly with the aid of a magnifying glass. When magnified, the text "MAS" in micro-letters in the shadow of the denomination numeral can be seen.

Intaglio Printing:

In both paper and polymer notes, the portrait of Encik Yusof bin Ishak is hand-engraved and printed in intaglio ink, giving it a raised embossed feel. This raised feel is also present on the Singapore Coat of Arms, the word "SINGAPORE," and other areas. The denomination numeral also has a raised feel.

Braille Code:

At the top right corner of the front of the paper banknotes, there are raised dots forming a Braille code printed in heavy intaglio ink. Different note denominations have different Braille codes to help visually impaired people differentiate the notes. Each polymer note also has a Braille pattern printed in intaglio ink at the top right corner of the front of the note.

Asymmetrical Serial Numbers:

The serial numbers on the banknotes (both paper and polymer) are printed in an asymmetrical manner. The digits in these serial numbers progressively increase in size. One serial number appears horizontally, and the other vertically. Both serial numbers are printed using fluorescent ink that glows under ultraviolet (UV) light.

Fluorescent Ink:

The serial numbers and the seal located on the front of genuine Singapore Dollar paper notes are printed using a fluorescent ink that emits a bright glow when viewed under ultraviolet (UV) light. For polymer notes, the denomination numeral itself is also designed to be visible under UV light.

A Detailed Guide to Identifying Counterfeit SGD Currency by Denomination

Feature	Paper Notes (S$2, S$5, S$10, S$50, S$100, S$1000, S$10,000)	Polymer Notes (S$2, S$5, S$10)
Watermark / Shadow Image	Portrait & highlight watermark of Encik Yusof bin Ishak when held to light	Shadow image of Encik Yusof is visible when held to light
Security Thread	Interwoven thread with microtext ("SINGAPORE" + denomination)	Embedded thread shaped like the Singapore island
Perfect Registration	Aligned front & back designs are visible under light	Same, includes Singapore Lion symbol alignment
Microtext	"MONETARY AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE" and “MAS” in micro letters	"MONETARY AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE" and “MAS” in micro letters
Intaglio Printing	Raised printing on portrait, text, coat of arms, and numerals	Raised printing on portrait, text, coat of arms, and numerals
Braille Code	Raised dots on top right (differs by denomination)	Raised dots on top right (differs by denomination)
Serial Numbers	Asymmetrical size, UV fluorescent ink, horizontal & vertical	Asymmetrical size, UV fluorescent ink, horizontal & vertical
Fluorescent Ink	Serial numbers & seal glow under UV light	Denomination numeral also glows under UV
Kinegram	Holographic foil with changing denomination/logo, shimmering background	N/A
Clear Window	N/A	Complex Clear Window with hidden images & embossed numerals
Gold Patch / Coat of Arms	N/A	Stylised gold patch reveals Coat of Arms when tilted
Special (S$1000, S$10,000)	S$1000: National anthem microprinted on back S$10,000: Tactile feel (not waxy)	Not issued in polymer

S$2, S$5, S$10, S$50 and S$100 Paper Notes:

Besides the above-mentioned common security features, all these denominations feature a unique security feature known as the Kinegram.
This is an octagonal holographic foil located on the front of the banknote.
When the note is tilted, the denomination numeral within the kinegram appears to shift, and the logo of either the Board of Commissioners of Currency Singapore (BCCS) or the MAS transforms into the letters "BCCS" or the Singapore Lion symbol, depending on the issuing authority.
The background of the kinegram consists of shapes representing electron orbitals, which exhibit a shimmering effect and change from bright to dark as the note is rotated.
For more recently issued notes, the microtext at the top of the note has been updated to 'Monetary Authority of Singapore', and the MAS logo is used on the kinegram.

S$2, S$5, S$10 Polymer Note:

This denomination incorporates several unique security features in addition to the above-mentioned common security features.
It features a Complex Clear Window, which is a see-through area containing a multi-tonal image of the Singapore Arms and hidden images of the word "MAS".
The note also has an Embossed Clear Window with the denomination numeral, for example, "10" embossed in the center, surrounded by repetitive patterns of "10" for a 10-dollar note.
The S$2 and S$5 polymer notes similarly feature the Complex Clear Window and a Shadow Image.
Additionally, the polymer note features a Gold Patch in the shape of the Singapore Lion symbol.
When the note is tilted, the Singapore Coat of Arms becomes visible within this patch.

S$1000 and S$10,000 Paper Note:

A key security feature of the S$1000 paper banknote is the inclusion of the complete lyrics of the Singapore national anthem microprinted on the back of the note.
This extremely small text requires a strong magnifying glass to read.
The absence of this microtext or the presence of illegible characters would suggest a counterfeit.
While detailed security features for S$10,000 are not much talked about since it is no longer issued, it can be assumed that this denomination incorporates similar security features found in other Portrait Series banknotes.
However, in addition to checking the general security features, the tactile feel of this note should be considered. This is because the counterfeit S$10,000 notes are reported to have a waxy feel.
An unusual waxy texture compared to genuine paper currency could be a sign of a counterfeit.

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