How to distinguish real rubles?

More than 24 thousand crimes associated with forged money production and trade was registered in 2003 in Russia, informs press-service of the Russian Internal Affairs Ministry's economical crimes department head office. The most frequently forged money are 50, 100, 500 and 1000 ruble notes.

"Forgers' actions cause great damage to people, as only in one of ten cases they can distinguish a fake note from real one". The last year the Ministry activated operations against money forgery.

Criminal bands engaged in money forgery and trade were arrested practically every month in various regions. Just before the New Year two young men were arrested in Saratov region, one of them is a Saratov state Agriculture University student. They tried to buy products with forged money. Later special equipment for money printing was found in their flat.

Internal Affairs Ministry calls Russians to be more attentive, and reminds a few hints how to distinguish real notes from the fake. According to these, mocked 100 ruble notes have "unclear water signs; thick and not crusty paper; paint of the numbers is not shiny". The 500 and 1000 ruble notes have additional protective elements: the Bank of Russia sign on the 1000 ruble note changes its colour from dark brown to green, what  forged notes lack; they also have a string of micro text.