Bulgaria has registered the largest increase in counterfeit lev banknotes in the last 15 years. Data from the Bulgarian National Bank show that in recent months alone, nearly 3,000 counterfeit notes have been discovered, with the 50 and 100 lev banknotes being the most frequently counterfeited. Most are detected in circulation through money exchange and commercial transactions. Experts associate the trend with the upcoming introduction of the euro, after which the lev will be out of use.
Methods for recognizing counterfeit banknotes:
1. Relief check: Genuine lev banknotes have a tangible relief - the letters, numbers and portrait are slightly protruding. When touched, the paper is rough and dense, while in counterfeits it is smooth and thin, resembling ordinary paper.
2. Watermark check: When held up to the light, a thinning of the paper can be seen - this is the watermark with a portrait of the person depicted on the banknote. If the image is simply printed or looks unnatural, the note is fake.
3. Holographic element: On the 50 and 100 lev banknotes there is a holographic strip, which changes its color and shows a dynamic "chessboard effect" when the angle of the light changes. Counterfeits often use glued foil without a real holographic effect.
4. Optical ink: On the real banknote, the denomination number (e.g. 100) is printed with ink that changes its color from green to blue when tilted. In fakes, this is often just a printed color without an effect.
5. Protective thread: A dark vertical thread is embedded, in which the denomination of the banknote is repeatedly written in the originals. Counterfeiters either use glued foil or depict the thread with a dark print that does not pass through the paper.
6. Under UV light: Real banknotes have invisible elements that glow in green, red or blue under a UV lamp. Fakes usually glow evenly or have no fluorescence at all.
According to the BNB and the GDBOP, nearly 2,900 counterfeit banknotes were seized in 2025, which is more than 40% more than the previous year. Financial experts recommend performing a "double check" - visual and mechanical. Max Baklayan from EKIP emphasizes: "Do not rely only on banknote counting machines - some of the counterfeit money passes through them without being detected."
The BNB reminds citizens that if in doubt, the banknote should not be used, but should be handed over to a bank employee or the police. The central bank maintains an up-to-date list and visual examples of all issues on its official page.