Dozens of packages of counterfeit money taken out of circulation! Which bill is particularly popular

The Hague -Europol has confiscated an impressive 14 million euros in counterfeit money as part of Operation DECOY .

Everyone would like to have a chunk of money like that at home. Unfortunately, it's all counterfeit money.
Everyone would like to have a chunk of money like that at home. Unfortunately, it's all counterfeit money.  © Europol

A total of 174 parcels containing almost 135,000 counterfeit euro bills were intercepted, as the European police authority announced on Monday.

A large proportion of the counterfeit money was so-called "film money". These deceptively genuine bills have such small counterfeit markings that they are often overlooked - much to the advantage of the fraudsters.

According to Europol, the most frequently counterfeited banknote was the 50. The 20 euro bill followed in second place.

The aim of the operation, in which 17 other countries besides Germany took part, was to stop counterfeit money being sent by post in Europe.

Criminals send deceptively genuine banknotes by post across Europe.
Criminals send deceptively genuine banknotes by post across Europe.  © Europol

144 new police investigations were launched as a result of the operation to track down the criminals behind the counterfeit money trade.