One often reads about and hears about how much money people are making in China. Everyday millions are being made, and some of it even gets spent here and there. However, the idea of making money in China takes on a whole new connotation when the word “counterfeit” comes into the conversation. Counterfeit money turns up just about everywhere and people coming here to do business, or coming to China as tourists, need to be on guard because, for the most part, they know little or nothing about Chinese currency before they get here.
Counterfeit money can pop up just about anywhere. One of the first things someone new to China will notice is that almost without exception, when you pay for goods and/or services in most Chinese stores, the cashier will run the currency note you gave him/her through a special optical scanner designed to detect counterfeit currency. Larger notes such as 50 RMB notes and 100 RMB notes are virtually always scanned, as are many of the smaller notes.
After spending many Chinese RMB currency notes in many locations without incident, I received a 50 RMB note (approx. $8 USD) back from a taxi driver the past Saturday in a wad of notes I got back in change after using a 100 RMB (approx.$16 USD) note to pay for a 26 RMB( approx. $4.25 USD) ride. Unfortunately I did not discover the bogus RMB note until after it was scanned by a clerk in a 7-11 Store where I tried to use it to buy some Saturday night munchies. The 7-11 clerk eyeballed my 50 RMB note suspiciously as soon as I gave it to him. After he scanned it twice, there was no doubt that the note was bogus Upon closer examination and touch I wondered how I could have not noticed that my money was funny.
Bogus 50 RMB note
After my small monetary set back and lesson learned, I decided I should do some further research about detecting counterfeit bills in the land of the Great Wall.
My research has uncovered a number of well illustrated articles about detecting counterfeiting in China, so I thought I would pass some of them on to you. One particularly good articles can be found on the website of Xian Travel Company (
http://www.xian-travel.com/china-travel-guides/chinesemoney/
). Other very informative article can be found on line at:
http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/money.htm
);
http://english.rednet.cn/c/2009/01/16/1691024.htm
http://english.rednet.cn/c/2009/01/16/1691024.htm
I can tell you now that I will pay closer attention to the Chinese currency notes that I handle in the future. Keep your eyes open and your fingers ever sensitive to protect yourself from all of the many “money makers” in China!
Hawkeye in China
Lex Smith