An app should be able to quickly and reliably detect counterfeit money through a smartphone scan. The technology focuses on a forgery-proof process.
An app should be able to quickly and reliably detect counterfeit money using a smartphone scan. The company Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions developed the application together with the Technical University of Ostwestfalen-Lippe. The company specializes in the development and manufacture of security features for securities printing and, in a research partnership with the university, has developed a solution to clearly identify these security print features using image processing methods.
In particular, it is about so-called gravure printing processes, such as steel intaglio printing – a process that creates a tangible sublimation on paper on the one hand, and the finest lines and hatching possible on the other.
In a research project, it was possible to prove that such printing processes can be clearly detected even optically with modern smartphones. Other printing processes used exclusively for securities may also be identified in this way and their authenticity may be checked.
So far, counterfeiters have not been able to imitate recognized attributes.
Such recognition is important because gimmicks have not yet been able to mimic this combination of optical and tactile characteristics.
Both partners now offer a simple, practical application of the new identity system in the form of the WallyCash app. It’s available to download for free for iPhones – and scans all Euro banknotes.
