Comment of Chief of Banknote and Coin Expert Examination Division of NBK Cash Department Askat Mukamadiyev About Detected Forged Money in HI 2021

Over the first six months of 2021, the National Bank and second-tier banks identified 336 counterfeit currency units (333 banknotes and 3 coins) worth more than 1 million KZT. During the same period last year, 390 such banknotes were detected.

Most often, bills of 2,000 and 5,000 KZT denominations are counterfeited accounting for 65% and 19% of the total volume. The remaining 16% are banknotes and coins of other denominations. The bulk of the counterfeit money were found in the cities of Almaty (228) and Nur-Sultan (43).

Counterfeiters mainly imitate visual security features. At first sight, they may be identical but upon careful examination of a banknote you can determine a counterfeit.

Authentic banknotes are distinguished by clear images, they have a watermark as mythical bird Samruk, denomination and also a security thread, which are clearly visible against the light.

More information on how to distinguish real money from bogus one can be found on website of the National Bank of Kazakhstan.