re: Counterfeit detection pens
In nutshell, the pens don't offer any real protection to consumers or retailers. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) includes meaningful public features in US currency. If people would simply use those features, most counterfeits would not be accepted. Most counterfeits I've seen are actually pretty poor, yet someone accepted them.
The downside of the pens is that the resulting marks constitute graffiti on the notes, and they will be destroyed next time they are deposited and processed at a Federal Reserve office.
In nutshell, the pens don't offer any real protection to consumers or retailers. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) includes meaningful public features in US currency. If people would simply use those features, most counterfeits would not be accepted. Most counterfeits I've seen are actually pretty poor, yet someone accepted them.
The downside of the pens is that the resulting marks constitute graffiti on the notes, and they will be destroyed next time they are deposited and processed at a Federal Reserve office.