No, Serial Numbers Alone Cannot Identify Fake Currency Notes: Authorities Clarify

Islamabad: Claims circulating on social media suggesting that fake currency notes can be identified simply by checking their serial numbers are false and misleading, according to official sources.
Recently, several viral posts on social media have created confusion among citizens of Pakistan, claiming that counterfeit Pakistani currency notes can be detected based on specific prefixes in their serial numbers.
The posts, widely shared from a Facebook account on January 27, included images of PKR 500, 1000, and 5000 notes. They falsely claimed that notes with serial prefixes such as “AF” on 500 rupee notes, “CE” on 1000 rupee notes, and “HO” on 5000 rupee notes were counterfeit.

However, a representative of the State Bank of Pakistan clarified that these claims are completely false and have no factual basis.
The official stated that citizens should rely only on verified information available on the central bank’s official website and authenticated social media accounts, not on unverified social media posts.
A fact-check review of the State Bank of Pakistan’s official platforms also confirmed that no such guideline regarding currency identification through serial number prefixes has ever been issued.
Authorities have urged the public to remain cautious and avoid spreading or believing misinformation related to currency authentication.