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Are fake two-euro coins added in Kosovo? Is Albania also affected?

2023-11-11 12:15:14Biznes SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Are fake two-euro coins added in Kosovo? Is Albania also affected?

The Central Bank of Kosovo, in coordination with the Kosovo Police, the Kosovo Forensic Agency, the Kosovo Customs, the Kosovo Tax Administration, the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Market Inspectorate and the Kosovo Intelligence Agency have met urgently to intensify institutional actions for combating the counterfeit money that is circulating.

The alarm has been raised especially for the 2 euro coin.

As never before, all financial and security institutions have joined together to declare "war" on the fake two-euro coin that has invaded the market.

In fact, the Central Bank, Kosovo Police, Kosovo Agency for Forensics, Kosovo Customs, Kosovo Tax Administration, Financial Intelligence Unit, Market Inspectorate have gathered urgently to intensify institutional actions to combat counterfeit money.

"On the basis of these discussions, the parties agreed on an action plan, which foresees the undertaking of preventive and regulatory actions by the institutions according to the areas of responsibility related to the use of currencies and the increase of financial protection. In the implementation of this plan, the revision of the currency deposit fee in banks by the CBK, the advancement of inter-institutional cooperation and the financial sector, as well as the promotion of the use of electronic payment methods, as part of financial education campaigns, is foreseen. the notice issued.

With particular emphasis, citizens have been instructed to avoid using cash (especially the 2 euro coin) and to use bank cards as much as possible during payments.

"Concrete actions are also required from banks and other financial institutions, to raise the internal capacities to address this phenomenon and to communicate as efficiently as possible with the relevant authorities".

It has also been recommended that businesses be supplied only by banks with cash that is supplied by the CBK, while the received funds are subject to verification before they are put back into circulation.

The former deputy director of the Kosovo Agency for Forensics, Milazim Tahirukaj, has said that Kosovo is like an open market for putting counterfeit banknotes into circulation, since it does not have its own currency.

"Depending on the method of forgery of coins or banknotes, their source and origin can also be identified, until the arrival of the clandestine laboratory, to identify whether it is in Kosovo, Macedonia, or Bulgaria. We have increasing cases that come from the countries of the region in Kosovo, taking into account that Kosovo uses the euro currency and banknote, while the countries of the region have their own banknotes, therefore Kosovo is an open market to put banknotes into circulation falsified".

Even though Kosovo is covered with fake money, Tahirukaj sees that this situation can become even bigger.

"There has been a time when counterfeit 2-euro and 1-euro coins have covered the market, and as a result of this, many shops have started to stop circulating the 2-euro coin."

Nobody wants two euros

The two-euro coin has been a big problem in Kosovo for a long time, during all the months of 2023.

The problem was created by the enormous counterfeiting of this currency and the placement of this money in the financial market of the country, but also by the suspicions created by many people - individuals and legal entities about the numerous numerical counterfeiting of this currency.

In recent months, Kosovo has refused to accept two-euro coins in many cases.

Even some public companies have come out publicly against this currency.

The Regional Water Company "Prishtina", which in February of this year had made the statement that "the company had decided months ago not to accept in any way the 2 euro currency for payment from customers for the services performed by this company".

The "Prishtina Parking" Company almost acted the same way, as many consumers began to act in a more or less the same way, refusing to take change in two euros in bakeries, minimarkets, self-services and so on, demanding that the value of two euros to give them divided by 1 euro.

The case of the actions of the "Prishtina" Regional Waterworks and the "Prishtina-Parking" enterprise, by those familiar with the monetary circumstances, was assessed as quite egregious and unprecedented in the practices of payment transactions so far, not only in our country.

How much fake money is there in the market and where is it coming from?

Hundreds of thousands of fake euros are suspected to be circulating in the Kosovo market.

The presence of fake money is also confirmed by the actions of the Kosovo police for their confiscation and the arrest of counterfeiters.

At the forensics laboratory of the Pristina Police, staff have examined more than 30,000 counterfeit 2-euro coins in the first half of this year, compared to 4,451 in the same period last year.

According to the Kosovo Police, last year they sent 804 cases to prosecutors related to money counterfeiting and 486 so far this year.

In April they arrested a man and a woman trying to bring 10,600 fake €2 coins into Kosovo from North Macedonia.

Many videos in the Albanian language on social networks offer offers for fake coins or other euro banknotes which are sold for 10%-20% of their face value. There are a number of profiles on the TikTok app that advertise fake money. Below these announcements there are hundreds of comments from people with first and last names, who are looking to buy different amounts of fake money.

However, based on the comments on TikTok profiles, it seems that many citizens are being deceived.

"These are the roots. Just take the money and then make it a block on all sides. Remember, Albanian people".

European financial institutions share some tips on how to identify counterfeit money. One of the methods is to touch the coin, as fake coins are usually rougher. Also deviations, letters and symbols inconsistent with the original can be identified.

It is recommended that if you have doubts about the money you accept, you kindly ask for another currency. It is suggested that the person in question be kindly explained that he may be in possession of a counterfeit currency, which is against the law.


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