How to detect forged credit cards and debit cards

There has been a rapid increase in forged credit cards in Korea. This is because there has been a proliferation of credit card copying machine sold on the internet enabling anyone to easily make copies of cards. Although credit card information can be stolen when making purchases abroad, credit card information can be also be stolen by crooks pretending to be part time workers at convenience stores and gas stations. Credit card duplication devices have also been installed at ATMs, leaving many victims helpless.

Fluorescent security features are hidden inside credit cards and debit cards to prevent forgery. Although the exact details depend on the particular type of card, typically there is at least one fluorescent security feature on either the front or the back of the card. It is recommended that stores verify cards if there is any suspicion that a card has been duplicated when high priced items are being sold.

The card pictured below is a visa debit card. Under ultra violet light, the letter V in in visa turns fluorescent blue. In addition, if the IC chip portion of the card is put under ultraviolet, it turns fluorescent pink.

Specific sections of the card may also emit fluorescent light when placed under ultraviolet light. Although usually nothing in visible under natural lighting conditions, two out of three cards turn fluorescent yellow or fluorescent orange when when placed under ultraviolet light.

[Natural light]

[Under UV light]

Depending on the card, fluorescent security feature may be embedded in the signature line on the back of the card.

Although newer IC integrated chip cards are known to be safer than magnetic strip cards, it is also true that IC chip cards are currently being duplicated. In the year 2014, 23 billion Korean won was charged to cards that had been stolen or duplicated by third parties. Please ensure that you sign the back of your card. Card users and stores that accept cards must be alert to guard against card fraud.


You can contact us : uvleddetector@mv21.co.kr

How to detect counterfeit Rupee money by using MP12t

India has been witnessing a soaring increase of counterfeit money due to widespread use of high-performing computers, printers and zerox machines. The nation is struggling with counterfeit rupees flowing in from Nepal and Pakistan. In particular, large bills are frequently counterfeited. Among those worth 566 million rupees confiscated in 2013, around 24,116 bills were 500 rupee bills and 65,025 bills were 1,000 rupee bills.

We will now check fluorescent security measures on 500 rupee bills and 1,000 rupee bills via using UV LED Detector MP12t.

1. 500 Rupee

1) Front : You can see the fluorescent security fibers at the left end and the serial number at the bottom left turns fluorescent red. And also at the center, the pattern at the center surrounding the letter 500 representing the type of bill and the part of Ghandi's portrait turn to fluorescent green and the letters RBI(Reserve Bank of INDIA) and “भारती” repeated on the partially-exposed silver band also turn to fluorescent green. The serial number of the bill on the top right is also turns fluorescent red.

2) Back : The whole side is sensitive to UV light, the fluorescent green band emerges where the partially-exposed line is located. And a part of the design 'Salt Satyagraha' at the back turns to fluorescent green.


2. 1,000 Rupee

1) Front : The serial number at the bottom left turns fluorescent red, and the overall front design responds to UV light. The design of 1,000 rupee bill is in red tone but, when lit with UV light, turns to fluorescent yellow or green. Just like 500 rupee bill, the letters RBI(Reserve Bank of INDIA) and “भारती” repeated on the partially-exposed silver band also turn to fluorescent green. The serial number of the bill on the top right is also turns fluorescent blue.

2) Back : The whole overall side is fluorescent and the fluorescent green band emerges where the partially-exposed line is located. Unlike the 500 rupee bill, other parts of the back side does not emerge as fluorescent.


No damaged or frayed bills are accepted in India as they are considered counterfeited. However, they keep their bills in bunch by stapler so there could be small holes in the middle of the bills. There are also some cases where you can get counterfeited money from ATMs and are not refunded or compensated by the bank for that. So travelers to India must be aware of such risk.


You can contact us : uvleddetector@mv21.co.kr

Ways to detect counterfeit gift certificates for department stores

In South Korea, paper gift certificates account for much bigger share in the market than gift cards or mobile gift certificates. In 2014, the value of Korea's paper gift certificate market was 9.4 trillion Korean Won(KRW) and that of mobile gift certificate market was 500 billion KRW. Among the figure, 5 trillion is estimated to account for gift certificates for department stores, 900 billion for gift certificate to use at the pump, 600 billion for recreation and culture gift certificates for shoes. Anyone who wishes to issue gift certificates can pay stamp duty to Korea's National Tax Service and issue them through Korea Minting, Security Printing and ID Card Operating Corporation.

The image above is the picture of one of the widely-circulated gift certificates for department stores. The gift certificate has the value of some 9 US dollars according to the current exchange rate. Gift certificates are used just as cash in membership stores so some of the security measures applied to bank notes are also used to protect them. Theses gift certificates have protruding water mark and partial exposure security thread(with hologram fine letters embedded), making it possible to discern with plain eyes.

In cases where visual detection with plain eyes is tricky, a separate device needs to be used. When the UV light is shone upon the surface of the gift certificate using UV LED Detector MP12t, the fluorescence fiber emerges overall and the hidden logo of issuer 'LOTTE' emerges in fluorescent green. Filling inside the logo are LOTTE's in fine letters. The overall fluorescence fiber also emerges at the back of the certificates.

In September 2015, Korea faced a serious challenge as counterfeit gift certificates worth more than 900 billion US dollars were known to be circulation in the country. The gift certificates of high face value are circulation and can be used just like cash, making them an easy target for counterfeiting crimes. Gift certificates have different security measures and designs but basically share many of those applied to bank notes, so please be aware of these in advance.

Feel free to contact us anytime if you have questions. ; uvleddetector@mv21.co.kr

Nowadays, the genuine labels are easily forged. Here is a solution, UV LED detector MP12t

Since the fakes are rampant in a variety of industries from electronics or automotive to cosmetics and other consumer products, the holographic or security labels are widely used nowadays for confirming authenticity of the products.

However consumers need to pay attention to the fakes because, with the technology of forgery developed in recent years, the increasing number of the skillful counterfeiting of the holographic or authentic labels is reported.

We have checked if it is an authentic label with MP12t the portable counterfeit detector.

The below is the Cheonjiram, one of famous liquor of Yanghadaegok, China. Three kinds of series, Haejiram, Cheonjiram and Mongjiram, are sold under the brand name of "Yanghanamsaekgyeongjeong".

As an expensive liquor, and authenticity label is attached. The attached brand name of Yanghanamsaekgyeongjeon and the trademark, looked as a hologram, are but materials of silver foil. The back is a kind of security labels, and the adhesive surface is made to be easily damaged when removing so that customers and easily check whether it is genuine or not.

MP12t the portable counterfeit detector is thrown over the product, a gradation of fluorescence appears from the upper left part of the brand in the center of the sticker. It is to certify the product is authenticity and to prevent forgery at the same time by applying the fluorescent element as an additional security.

Since the increasing number of holographic or authentic labels are skillfully forged or counterfeited with an advanced technology of forgery, it is highly recommended to check not only the presence or absence of stickers but to take meticulous care for additional identification.

Feel free to contact us anytime if you have questions. ; uvleddetector@mv21.co.kr

Detecting pollutants, fluorescence brightening agents, and particles with the UV LED Detector

UV light is not only used for screening fake bills or ID cards, but also can be used for other multiple purposes such as detecting particles, pollutants, refrigerant leak, bodily fluid and finger prints, or fluorescence brightening agents.

The image above show soap and other pollutants on a front wall of a sink found by the UV LED Detector MP12t. Natural light cannot, but only UV light can check such marks.

The image above shows how the UV LED Detector MP12t detects fluorescence brightening agents. The left image turned blue as the paper contains fluorescence brightening agents, but the right image does not show any response as the paper does not contain any fluorescence brightening agents.

Fluorescence brightening agents are used in many consumer goods such as paper, soap, sanitary items, textile, plastic, and paint, and are known to cause various skin problems and digestion issues. In particular, toddlers who ha sensitive skin are recommended to use clothes, towels, and tissues that do not contain fluorescence brightening agents.

The image above shows how the UV LED Detector MP12t detects particles such as dust on an LCD sample. Since having particles significantly affect semiconductor and display process, thorough particle control is necessary.

Feel free to contact us anytime if you have questions. ; uvleddetector@mv21.co.kr

Security measures for Peso of the Philippines

Some counterfeit bills of 500 peso or 1,000 peso are being detected in the Philippines. On top of this, voting rights are often sold and bought illegally in the country, so counterfeit bills are often found during the election season. Filipino bills are equipped with security measures preventing counterfeiting such as raised ink printing, serial number, fluorescent appearance, watermark and security seal so please heed to those signs. We'll have a look at the fluorescent security measures that can be easily detected by UV LED detector.

1. 20 Peso

1) Front : When shed with UV light, the serial number on the left end of the bill glows in fluorescent green and the fluorescent security threads appear.
2) Back : When shed with UV light, the sun pattern of Filipino national flag as well as the image of a small Palm Civet emerge in fluorescent yellow and red, and the fluorescent security threads appear.


2. 50 Peso

1) Front : When shed with UV light, the serial number on the left end of the bill glows in fluorescent green and the fluorescent security threads appear.
2) Back : When shed with UV light, the sun pattern of Filipino national flag as well as the image of a small Giant Trevally emerge fluorescent light green, orange and red, and the fluorescent security threads appear.


3. 100 Peso

1) Front : When shed with UV light, the serial number on the left end of the bill glows in fluorescent green and the fluorescent security threads appear.
2) Back : When shed with UV light, the sun pattern of Filipino national flag as well as the image of a small whale shark emerge in fluorescent light green and pink, and the fluorescent security threads appear.

Feel free to contact us anytime if you have questions. ; uvleddetector@mv21.co.kr

There are security concerns regarding the cash out voucher of casinos.

Just like chips at the casino's game table, you get a cash out voucher after playing a game at the slot machine. The cash out voucher can be exchanged at the cage or at the automatic exchanger within the casino.

Because the cash out voucher can be reinserted into the slot machine, and it can be used in place of cash within the casino, it is equipped with the fluorescent security factor.
The cash out voucher below is one which is actually being used in casino in Korea and the US, and nothing appears under natural light. However, the hidden security factor shows up when placed under the UV light.

 This is the cash out voucher used in Korean casinos. Nothing shows up on the front, but the casino's logo shows up on the back. Both the front and back consists of fluorescent paper, but the security factor show up clearly.

This is the cash voucher used in the US casinos. Just like above, nothing shows up on the front, but the casino's logo shows up on the back. The other cash out voucher uses only fluorescent fiber, and no other fluorescent factor is added.(Does not show clearly in photo.)

Because the automatic exchanger only exchanges the voucher of a certain limit, and if you win a huge amount at the slot machine, you must go to the cage for the exchange. This is when the secure factor is utilized. Through the primary barcode, the high value voucher is checked for validity, and once more, checked for secure factor. This is because there is possibility of forgery.

Forgery of chips or cash out vouchers at the casino is illegal and subject to punishment.