More than 950 counterfeit banknotes seized in Luxembourg
Clay Banks, Unsplash
Counterfeit money continues to be a problem in Luxembourg. In 2024, the police seized more than 950 counterfeit banknotes, which is in line with the average level for the country. Nevertheless, across Europe, counterfeit levels remain low by historical standards, as stated by the European Central Bank (ECB).
Banknotes in denominations of €20 and €50 dominate among counterfeit banknotes, accounting for three quarters of all counterfeit cases in the euro zone. Recently, a Luxembourg citizen tried to pay with counterfeit money in the Austrian resort of Ischgl, further confirming the prevalence of the problem.
In 2024, the police opened 39 criminal cases related to counterfeit money. However, these figures may contain some margin of error, as cases from the end of 2023 may have been counted in 2024, and a similar situation is possible as we move to 2025.
Despite the relatively high number of episodes under investigation, convictions are rare in judicial practice. In 2023, only one court sanction for the use of counterfeit money was recorded, and only two in the previous four years.
Under the Luxembourg Penal Code, making or altering counterfeit banknotes carries a serious penalty of 10 to 15 years in prison. Those who knowingly distribute counterfeit money risk 3 months to 1 year in prison and a fine of 500 to 10,000 euros.
In practice, however, such cases rarely go to trial, which may reflect either the difficulty of proving intent or the fact that many perpetrators remain off the radar of law enforcement.
