Look at the money you receive. Compare a suspect note with a genuine note of the same denomination and series, paying attention to the quality of printing and paper characteristics. Look for differences, not similarities. The genuine portrait appears lifelike and stands out distinctly from the background. The counterfeit portrait is usually lifeless and flat.
Details merge into the background which is often too dark or mottled.
On a genuine bill, the saw-tooth points of the Federal Reserve and Treasury seals are clear, distinct, and sharp. The counterfeit seals may have uneven, blunt, or broken saw-tooth points. The fine lines in the border of a genuine bill are clear and unbroken. On the counterfeit, the lines in the outer margin and scrollwork may be blurred and indistinct. Serial Numbers Genuine serial numbers have a distinctive style and are evenly spaced.