--- title: "Detecting Counterfeit Money, Part II: Color-shifting Numbers" description: Genuine U.S. bills change in color depending on the angle. Learn how to tell apart real dollars from the fakes by looking for these color changes image: https://blog.fraudfighter.com/hs-fs/file-15542747-jpg/images/counterfeit-color-shifting.jpg --- [![FF-PurpleBlack-2 1](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/hubfs/FF-PurpleBlack-2%201.png) ](https://www.fraudfighter.com) - Solutions - [Counterfeit Detection](https://www.fraudfighter.com/counterfeit-detection) - [Identity Authentication](https://www.fraudfighter.com/identity-authentication) - [FraudFighter ID](https://www.fraudfighter.com/id) - [UV Counterfeit Detection](https://www.fraudfighter.com/counterfeit-detection) - [Money Handling & Verification](https://www.fraudfighter.com/products/money-counters) - [Compliance & Risk Mitigation](https://www.fraudfighter.com/education/compliance-management) - Products - [Counterfeit Detection Devices](https://www.fraudfighter.com/products/uv-counterfeit-detectors) - [CT-600](https://www.fraudfighter.com/products/ct600) - [CT-250](https://www.fraudfighter.com/products/ct250) - [ULED-2000](https://www.fraudfighter.com/products/uled-2000) - [ULED-1500](https://www.fraudfighter.com/products/uled-1500) - [UV Pro Penlight](https://www.fraudfighter.com/products/penlight) - [DL Guidebook](https://www.fraudfighter.com/product/driver-license-guide) - [ID Verification](https://www.fraudfighter.com/id-products) - [Scanners](https://www.fraudfighter.com/fraudfighter-id-scanner-overview) - [Desktop](https://www.fraudfighter.com/id/desktop) - [Mobile](https://www.fraudfighter.com/id/mobile) - [WebID](https://www.fraudfighter.com/id/webid) - [Portal](https://www.fraudfighter.com/id/portal) - [Money Counters](https://www.fraudfighter.com/products/money-counters) - [FF-3000](https://www.fraudfighter.com/products/ff3000) - [CountEasy 2](https://www.fraudfighter.com/products/counteasy) - [CountEasy TS](https://www.fraudfighter.com/products/counteasy-ts) - [Industries](https://www.fraudfighter.com/industry) - [Automotive](https://www.fraudfighter.com/industry/automotive) - [Financial](https://www.fraudfighter.com/industry/financial) - [Government](https://www.fraudfighter.com/industry/government) - [Retail](https://www.fraudfighter.com/industry/retail) - [Gaming](https://www.fraudfighter.com/industry/hospitality/casinos) - [Bars & Clubs](https://www.fraudfighter.com/industry/hospitality/bars-nightclubs) - [Restaurants](https://www.fraudfighter.com/industry/hospitality/restaurants) - Resources - [Case Studies & Whitepapers](https://www.fraudfighter.com/education/case-studies) - [Compliance Guides](https://www.fraudfighter.com/resources/user-guides) - [Blog](https://blog.fraudfighter.com) - Company - [About](https://www.fraudfighter.com/about) - [Security Policy](https://www.fraudfighter.com/id/security-policy) - [FAQ](https://www.fraudfighter.com/id/faq) - Support - [Submit a Ticket](https://www.fraudfighter.com/support-ticket) - [Portal Login](https://app.fraudfighter.com) - [Knowledge Base](https://support.fraudfighter.com) - [FraudFighter ID Installation](https://www.fraudfighter.com/id/support/installation) - [Software Downloads](https://www.fraudfighter.com/resources/support/software-update-downloads) [![Shop](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/76574/c274e2d2-3016-4d51-92fb-412e5fae5e5b.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/76574/c274e2d2-3016-4d51-92fb-412e5fae5e5b) [![Contact Us](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/76574/b7e7dfcf-98d3-4e1a-86d5-794b27b325e6.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/76574/b7e7dfcf-98d3-4e1a-86d5-794b27b325e6) ![](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/hs-fs/file-15542747-jpg/images/counterfeit-color-shifting.jpg) [Fraud Prevention Tips](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/topic/fraud-prevention-tips) ![time](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/LandingPageTheme/images/time-icon.png) 1 minute read # Detecting Counterfeit Money, Part II: Color-shifting Numbers ### [Gary Satanovsky](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/author/gary-satanovsky) June 27, 2010 - [** ](https://twitter.com/share?source=https://blog.fraudfighter.com/bid/42471/Detecting-Counterfeit-Money-Part-II-Color-shifting-Numbers&text=Detecting%20Counterfeit%20Money,%20Part%20II:%20Color-shifting%20Numbers%20-%20https://blog.fraudfighter.com/bid/42471/Detecting-Counterfeit-Money-Part-II-Color-shifting-Numbers) - [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.fraudfighter.com/bid/42471/Detecting-Counterfeit-Money-Part-II-Color-shifting-Numbers&title=Detecting%20Counterfeit%20Money,%20Part%20II:%20Color-shifting%20Numbers&picture=http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/76574/file-15542747-jpg/images/counterfeit-color-shifting.jpg&description=Genuine%20U.S.%20bills%20change%20in%20color%20depending%20on%20the%20angle.%20Learn%20how%20to%20tell%20apart%20real%20dollars%20from%20the%20fakes%20by%20looking%20for%20these%20color%20changes) - [** ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.fraudfighter.com/bid/42471/Detecting-Counterfeit-Money-Part-II-Color-shifting-Numbers&title=Detecting%20Counterfeit%20Money,%20Part%20II:%20Color-shifting%20Numbers&summary=Genuine%20U.S.%20bills%20change%20in%20color%20depending%20on%20the%20angle.%20Learn%20how%20to%20tell%20apart%20real%20dollars%20from%20the%20fakes%20by%20looking%20for%20these%20color%20changes) (Note: This is the second of our four-part series on the common features of [counterfeit money](https://www.fraudfighter.com/fraud-prevention/counterfeit-money) and the specific features that makes them easier to spot.)   [![counterfeit money](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/hs-fs/file-15542747-jpg/images/counterfeit-color-shifting.jpg?width=315&height=102&name=counterfeit-color-shifting.jpg)](https://www.fraudfighter.com) This is a closeup of the most difficult printed security feature to replicate from the new US banknotes - the color-shifting ink used to print the numerals located in the corners on the front of the bill. On a genuine $100 banknote, the green color will “shift” to grey and back to green as you tilt the bill back and forth to change the viewing angle.     [![counterfeit currency](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/hs-fs/file-15542879-jpg/images/counterfeit-color-shifting.jpg2.jpg?width=307&height=112&name=counterfeit-color-shifting.jpg2.jpg)](https://www.fraudfighter.com/) This next picture is from a counterfeit bill. While it may look the same as the previous one when viewed from a straight-on angle, the color will not change as you tilt and move it around. The "optically variable ink", as it is officially called, is not widely commercially available. Most of it comes from a Swiss manufacturer SCIPA, which grants the U.S. exclusive rights to the green-and-black ink used for printing dollars. Nor can it be replicated by any copiers, which only "see" and replicate patterns from a fixed angle. The next time you see a bill with numbers that do not change color, take note: more than likely, it is a fake. - [**](https://twitter.com/share?source=https://blog.fraudfighter.com/bid/42471/Detecting-Counterfeit-Money-Part-II-Color-shifting-Numbers&text=Detecting%20Counterfeit%20Money,%20Part%20II:%20Color-shifting%20Numbers%20-%20https://blog.fraudfighter.com/bid/42471/Detecting-Counterfeit-Money-Part-II-Color-shifting-Numbers) - [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.fraudfighter.com/bid/42471/Detecting-Counterfeit-Money-Part-II-Color-shifting-Numbers&title=Detecting%20Counterfeit%20Money,%20Part%20II:%20Color-shifting%20Numbers&picture=http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/76574/file-15542747-jpg/images/counterfeit-color-shifting.jpg&description=Genuine%20U.S.%20bills%20change%20in%20color%20depending%20on%20the%20angle.%20Learn%20how%20to%20tell%20apart%20real%20dollars%20from%20the%20fakes%20by%20looking%20for%20these%20color%20changes) - [**](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.fraudfighter.com/bid/42471/Detecting-Counterfeit-Money-Part-II-Color-shifting-Numbers&title=Detecting%20Counterfeit%20Money,%20Part%20II:%20Color-shifting%20Numbers&summary=Genuine%20U.S.%20bills%20change%20in%20color%20depending%20on%20the%20angle.%20Learn%20how%20to%20tell%20apart%20real%20dollars%20from%20the%20fakes%20by%20looking%20for%20these%20color%20changes) ![shape](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/LandingPageTheme/images/shape-new02-new.png) ## Related Blogs ![](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/hubfs/Identity-authentication-financial-institutions-bank-secrecy.png) [Identity Verification](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/topic/identity-verification) ![time](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/LandingPageTheme/images/time-icon.png) 10 minute read ## [What Are the Top Identity Verification Solutions for Compliance Teams?](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/what-are-the-top-identity-verification-solutions-for-compliance-teams) Identity verification solutions enable compliance teams to confirm user identities while preventing... ![](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Close%20up%20of%20human%20hands%20and%20documents%20with%20graphs%20and%20diagrams.jpeg) [Document Verification](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/topic/document-verification) ![time](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/LandingPageTheme/images/time-icon.png) 11 minute read ## [How Do Document Verification Solutions Reduce Loan Fraud Losses?](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/how-do-document-verification-solutions-reduce-loan-fraud-losses) Document verification solutions reduce loan fraud losses by authenticating identity documents,... ![](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/hubfs/ID-150-no-bg.png) [Identity Authentication](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/topic/identity-authentication) ![time](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/LandingPageTheme/images/time-icon.png) 7 minute read ## [What ID Authentication Technology Stops Fraud Before It Happens?](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/what-id-authentication-technology-stops-fraud-before-it-happens) Identity fraud losses reached USD 27.2 billion in 2024, forcing enterprises to adopt pre‑emptive... ![FF-PurpleBlack-2](https://blog.fraudfighter.com/hubfs/FF-PurpleBlack-2.png) 1743 South Grand Ave. Glendora, CA 91740 US: (888) 664-9325 Intl: (626) 213-2702 ### Products - [Automatic Counterfeit Detection](https://www.fraudfighter.com/products/counterfeit-detectors) - [Counterfeit Detection Products](https://www.fraudfighter.com/products/counterfeit-detectors) - [Money Counters & Cash Handling Products](https://www.fraudfighter.com/products/money-counters) - [Identity Document Authentication](https://www.fraudfighter.com/products/identity-authentication) ### Resources - [Contact Us](https://www.fraudfighter.com/contact) - [Returns & Warranty Policy](https://www.fraudfighter.com/resources/support/returns-warranty-policy) - [Buy Replacement Bulbs](https://www.fraudfighter.com/products/replacement-bulbs) - [Solutions by Industry](https://www.fraudfighter.com/industry) ### About - [Why FraudFighter™](https://www.fraudfighter.com/why-fraudfighter) - [What We Do](https://www.fraudfighter.com/what-we-do) - Become a Partner - [Terms & Conditions](https://www.fraudfighter.com/terms-conditions) - [Privacy](https://www.fraudfighter.com/privacy) - [**](https://twitter.com/fraudfighterco) - [**](https://www.facebook.com/FraudFighterCo/) - [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/uveritech) © 2026 FraudFighter™ ![g-conv](https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/viewthroughconversion/1071859702/?value=0&guid=ON&script=0) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Gary Satanovsky", "url" : "https://blog.fraudfighter.com/author/gary-satanovsky" }, "datePublished" : "2010-06-27T17:49:00.000Z", "headline" : "Detecting Counterfeit Money, Part II: Color-shifting Numbers", "image" : [ "https://blog.fraudfighter.com/hs-fs/file-15542747-jpg/images/counterfeit-color-shifting.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.fraudfighter.com/bid/42471/Detecting-Counterfeit-Money-Part-II-Color-shifting-Numbers", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.fraudfighter.com/hubfs/FF-PurpleBlack-2.png" }, "name" : "UVeritech" } } ```