Law enforcement authorities in Greece are raising concerns over mushrooming online listings found on major international platforms offering counterfeit banknotes for sale, supposedly for use in films, music videos and theatrical productions.
According to the Athens daily “Ta Nea“, while offering fake euro notes under the pretext of their use in movie scenes involving “mob” transactions, robbery setups or displays of wealth in music videos, such notes must carry clear markings indicating they are not genuine, to prevent unsuspecting consumers from being defrauded in everyday transactions, and where one party may be unaware the bank notes was intended only as props.
397 parcels seized
The scale of the problem was highlighted by Europol’s recent “Decoy II” operation across 18 countries, including Greece, targeting networks distributing counterfeit currency mainly via postal shipments. Authorities seized 397 parcels containing more than seven million euros in purchases of fake banknotes and coins, but with a nominal value of a whopping 1.2 billion euros. Most were shipped in small packages to avoid detection.
According to the report, individuals in Greece have posted online ads offering hundreds of “prop” 50-euro notes priced at 5 to 10 euros each, with some listings advertising 150 euros worth of “studio” money for 15 euros – prices considered unusually high if intended solely for production use. One such listing was traced to a seller in Athens, while similar offers continue to reappear despite efforts by platforms to remove them.
Authorities note that Greece records around 100 to 200 counterfeiting cases annually, with growing concern over prop euros that closely resemble real currency and can easily deceive consumers and merchants.
