Euro forgeries rise in H2 2003
There was a 30% increase in the number of forged euro bank notes in circulation in the second-half of 2003.
311,925 forgeries were removed from circulation in both eurozone and non eurozone countries in the first six months of the year, according to the European Central Bank.
The total number of counterfeits removed from circulation during the whole year, 551,287 was 20% lower than the total number removed in 2001.
Counterfeit notes make up a small proportion of the amount of euros in circulation overall.
There are around 9bn genuine euro banknotes in circulation and approximately 120bn cash transactions per year involving euro banknotes.
