Since the beginning of this year, 426 counterfeit euro banknotes have been discovered in circulation in Finland, the Bank of Finland announced on Friday. This number is a slight increase on the number of fakes found over the same period last year, but the number of counterfeits in Finland is still low in comparison to other Eurozone countries.
"There is very little circulation of counterfeit banknotes in Finland. Usually they arrive here from abroad before being quickly discovered," said banknote specialist Olli Vehmas from Finland's central bank.
Of the forgeries, 260 were fake 50 euro banknotes and 90 were bogus twenties.
In total, authorities found more than 830 counterfeit notes in Finland last year – with around 340 seized during the first half of the year, and nearly 500 found in the second half. In 2017, authorities found about 770 counterfeit notes in total.
In June, police warned people to be on the lookout for fake movie prop banknotes which had found their way into the circulation of cash in Finland.
Using counterfeit money is a criminal offence that can carry a prison sentence of up to one year.