The Central Bank of Bulgaria has raised an alarm due to an unprecedented increase in financial crimes related to monetary manipulation. Official statistical data reveal an extremely concerning trend in the production and distribution of counterfeit banknotes.
According to an expert analysis by the BNB, the number of seized counterfeit banknotes has increased more than tenfold in just one quarter. The most affected denominations are 50 and 100 leva, which criminal groups prefer as objects of illegal activity.
Specific figures show a dramatic spike in the detection of fraudulent banknotes. During the first quarter, only 31 counterfeit 190-leva notes were identified, while in the second quarter their number rose to an impressive 661 copies. The situation is similar for 50-leva banknotes - from 121 in the first period to 531 in the second.
The overall statistics are more than alarming - a total of 1,247 counterfeit banknotes were seized in the second quarter, representing a tenfold increase compared to the previous period. Financial experts define this growth as a serious criminal problem that requires immediate preventive measures.
The institution calls on citizens to be extremely vigilant during monetary transactions and to pay increased attention to the authenticity of the banknotes they receive. Specialized units are working continuously to identify and neutralize the sources of counterfeits.