According to police, people are increasingly trying to pay with deceptively real-looking film money. Bavaria's State Office for Criminal Investigation (LKA) is now warning against accepting so-called "movie money". Film money has been increasing in Europe since the middle of the year.
"Money Money" refers to banknotes that are made for the entertainment industry, movies or magic shows. They have to differ in size and color from real money and bear clear indications that it is "movie money". If the bills look too much like real money, they are illegal. Their use is then considered counterfeit money, which is punished.
In a recent case, a French couple wanted to pay in a marquee at the Munich Oktoberfest with a "Movie Twenties". The attentive service, however, recognized the fake and notified the police.
In Bavaria, according to the LKA, there were 46 cases of fraudulent "movie money" in September. More than 40 cases were reported in the first two weeks of October. In particular, fakes of 5, 10, 20 and 50 euros were falsified. Most of them are made in Asia.