Sophisticated euro forgeries are increasingly rare, as the currency includes multiple security features that make counterfeiting difficult.
Finnish Customs is investigating a rare case of euro counterfeiting after intercepting a courier shipment from Italy last week.
The package contained 60,000 euros in 200 euro banknotes, which appeared highly authentic. However, technical analysis led Customs to suspect they were counterfeit.
Sophisticated euro forgeries are increasingly rare, as the currency includes multiple security features that make counterfeiting difficult.
Finnish Customs released serial numbers that can be used to identify counterfeits. Serial numbers for the 50 euro counterfeit notes include ES8125815125, FB8477117453, BS1473810574, SE5325815512 and SF2555812181. The serial number of the 200 euro notes is EA5086938835.
On Monday, the Eastern Uusimaa District Court remanded a 23-year-old Finnish man on suspicion of aggravated counterfeiting. Court records indicate the alleged crime took place in Vantaa between 11–13 February 2025.
There are other suspects in the case, but at this stage of the investigation, Customs has not disclosed their names.
When apprehended, the suspect was carrying over 30,000 euros in suspected counterfeit 50 euro notes. Customs believes some of these may have already entered circulation, making them a potential risk in everyday transactions.
So far, there is no evidence that the 200 euro notes were distributed. It remains unclear whether the suspect was attempting to launder the fake money or simply spending it.
Aggravated counterfeiting carries a prison sentence of 2 to 10 years under Finnish law.
“According to the preliminary technical investigation, the two hundred euro notes are definitely counterfeit, and it seems very strong that the fifty euro notes are also counterfeit,” said Tero Virtanen, head of the investigation.
Virtanen did not comment on where the notes may have been made.
