Counterfeit euro banknotes of various denominations withdrawn from circulation in Cyprus went up 17.1% in 2025, compared to 2024, according to data published by the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC).
According to a CBC press release, in Cyprus, during 2025, 670 pieces of counterfeit euro banknotes of various denominations were withdrawn from circulation. The €50 note had the highest rate of counterfeiting in Cyprus, accounting for 45.4% of the total.
At the same time, the European Central Bank has announced that during 2025, about 444,000 pieces of counterfeit euro banknotes of various denominations were withdrawn from circulation, representing a decrease of 20% as compared with 2024.
According to the data, the €50 and €20 notes continued to be the most counterfeited banknotes, jointly accounting for 80.2% of the total. 96.8% of counterfeits were found in euro area countries, while 2.2% were found in non-euro area European Union member states and 1% in the rest of the world.
CBC noted that, in comparison with the number of genuine euro banknotes in circulation, the quantity of counterfeits remains very low. However, notwithstanding the very small number of euro banknotes counterfeits, CBC advises the public to be careful and to scrutinise banknotes when transacting in cash.
It is noted that the Central Bank of Cyprus and the European Central Bank websites provide information on simple ways to check the genuineness of euro banknotes.
(Source: CNA)
