Yes, you can spot a fake hundred-dollar bill by checking the 3-D blue ribbon, watermark, color-shifting ink, and the embedded security thread.
The $100 note carries multiple layers that work together. You don’t need gadgets. With a short routine—look, tilt, feel—you can rule out most counterfeits in seconds.
How To Spot A Fake 100 Dollar Bill: Quick Checks
Start with a fast triage. Use these steps in order when a $100 reaches your hand at a register, meet-up, or delivery.
Step-By-Step Routine
- Look: Find the blue 3-D ribbon on the front. The bells change to 100s and “move” when you tilt the note.
- Tilt: Check the copper-to-green shift on the bell-in-the-inkwell and the large “100” in the lower right corner.
- Feel: Run a fingertip over Franklin’s shoulder and the large “100” on the back; genuine notes have raised ink.
- Backlight: Hold to light to see the faint portrait watermark and the vertical security thread that repeats USA 100.
- UV: Under ultraviolet light, the $100 thread glows pink.
Feature Triage Table
This compact table shows what to check first during a quick screen.
| What To Check | How It Should Behave | Fast Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| 3-D Blue Ribbon | Bells/100s shift left-right/up-down when you tilt | No motion = suspect |
| Bell In Inkwell | Shifts copper→green when tilted; bell “appears” | No shift = suspect |
| Watermark Portrait | Franklin’s faint image visible from both sides | No portrait = suspect |
| Security Thread | Embedded left of the portrait; reads USA 100 | Printed line = suspect |
| UV Reaction | Thread glows pink under UV light | Wrong color = suspect |
Know The Design You’re Holding
The current design with the blue ribbon reached circulation in 2013. Older $100 notes remain legal tender and still show dependable tells: watermark, thread, and color-shifting ink. Your routine stays the same—confirm at least two strong features from different categories.
The Big Three Visuals
3-D Security Ribbon
The woven blue strip is not printed on the surface. Micro-lenses inside create the moving bell and 100 pattern. If the strip looks flat, blurry, or ink-printed, treat the note as suspect.
Bell In The Inkwell
The copper inkwell on the front holds a bell that changes to green when you tilt. The bell should appear to fade in and out. A flat print with no shift fails the test.
Color-Shifting Numeral
The large 100 in the lower-right corner of the face changes from copper to green. A painted look or a single static color signals trouble.
Embedded Features You Can’t Fake With A Printer
Portrait Watermark
Hold the note to light. A faint portrait of Franklin should appear on the right side of the face. It matches the main portrait. A dark outline or a printed image on the surface points to a fake.
Security Thread With Microtext
The $100 has a vertical polymer thread left of the portrait. It repeats USA 100 and has microprinting. It is part of the paper, not a surface stripe. If you can scratch it off, it isn’t real.
UV Reaction
Under a small UV lamp, the $100 thread glows pink. Other denominations glow with different colors. No glow or the wrong color is a red flag.
Tactile Clues
Genuine notes use intaglio printing that leaves raised ink. Slide a thumb over Franklin’s shoulder, the treasury seal, and the back’s large 100. A slick, flat surface often signals toner or inkjet output.
Microprinting: Where To Look
Counterfeiters miss tiny text. Check these spots with a pocket lens or a sharp eye.
- Along the quill: “ONE HUNDRED USA.”
- Near Franklin’s collar: “THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”
- By the ribbon: small “100s” within the pattern.
- Around the security thread: “USA 100.”
Serials, Plates, And Alignment
Serial numbers should match in color and print quality. They should not smear. The treasury seal and serials share the same color tone. Look for even margins and clean borders. Crooked frames or fuzzy detail suggest a note made from a scan.
Older Notes You’ll Still See
Pre-2013 notes lack the blue ribbon, yet they still carry a portrait watermark, a security thread, and color-shifting ink on the “100” in the corner. Apply the same look-tilt-feel routine and lean on the watermark and thread when the ribbon isn’t present.
What Not To Rely On
“Pen Tests”
Iodine pens only detect wood-pulp paper. Many fakes pass by using bleached small-denomination notes. A pen streak that stays yellow doesn’t clear a note. Use the security features instead.
One Feature Alone
No single feature should decide the call in a busy setting. Confirm two or three from different groups: motion, tilt color shift, watermark, thread/UV, and raised ink.
Handling A Suspect Note
If a bill fails your checks, pause the sale and keep the note visible. Place it in an envelope or a clear sleeve so it doesn’t mix with good cash. Call local police or your Secret Service field office. Give a brief description of who handed you the note and the circumstances. Do not return the bill to the passer.
What To Tell Law Enforcement
- Time, place, and how the bill showed up.
- Any name, phone, or license plate you observed.
- How the bill failed your tests.
Training Your Team Or Household
Print a one-page reference and keep a pocket UV light by the register or desk. Teach the same five-step routine so everyone checks in the same order. Post a short script for pausing a sale and contacting local police. Consistent steps cut mistakes and speed up the call.
High-Confidence Checks With Simple Tools
Pocket UV Light
A small 365–395 nm lamp makes the embedded thread show its color fast. For the $100, look for pink. Run the beam top to bottom; the thread sits left of the portrait.
10× Loupe
A basic jeweler’s loupe reveals microprinting and raised lines. Genuine intaglio lines are crisp with tiny ink burrs. Home prints look mushy or dotted.
Common Scam Patterns
Bleached Notes
Fraudsters strip a $1 or $5 and reprint a $100 image on the real cotton-linen paper. The feel can pass. The tells still fail: the watermark and thread will match the original small denomination, not a $100.
“Motion Picture Money” And Novelties
Props may say “For Motion Picture Use Only” or “Replica.” The paper often looks stiff and the print repeats on the back. Treat these as counterfeit on the spot.
When You’re In A Rush
In a busy line, use a two-move screen. First, tilt the bell-in-the-inkwell for the copper-to-green shift. Next, check the blue ribbon for motion. If one fails, hold to light to confirm the watermark and thread.
Link To Official Guides
For full visuals of each feature, see the U.S. $100 note page. For reporting steps and consumer guidance, read the Federal Reserve FAQ on counterfeit notes. Both links open in a new tab.
Deep-Dive Feature Map
Use this second table during training or onboarding. It pairs a red flag with the likeliest real-world explanation so you don’t over-reject good cash.
| Red Flag You See | What It Might Mean | What To Do Next |
|---|---|---|
| Blue ribbon looks printed | Inkjet copy or low-res photo | Tilt for motion; feel for raised ink |
| No copper-to-green shift | Color copy or worn spot | Check watermark and thread |
| Weak watermark | Heavy soil or folds | Compare under bright light |
| Thread in wrong place | Bleached small denomination | Check UV color and microtext |
| UV shows wrong color | Wrong denomination thread | Read the thread text |
| Raised ink feels flat | Washed note or slick residue | Use loupe; confirm other features |
Set A Simple Store Policy
Post a sign by the till that large notes may be checked. Keep a UV light handy and a copy of your quick routine. Train to stay calm, keep the bill in sight, and call local police when needed. Clear steps protect staff and customers.
Printable One-Minute Drill
Keep this five-line script on a card near your register, front desk, or safe.
- Tilt for the bell-in-the-inkwell color shift.
- Check the blue ribbon for motion.
- Hold to light for the watermark and thread.
- Scan for raised ink with your thumb.
- Use UV to verify pink on the thread.
Why This Routine Works
Your steps mix surface printing tells, embedded elements, and light-based checks. That blend blocks the most common fake types: basic prints, washed notes, and props.
Wear And Tear Versus Red Flags
Circulated cash picks up soil, folds, and scrapes. Raised ink can feel smoother on a long-lived note, yet the watermark and thread should still appear under light. A worn corner or a taped edge doesn’t cancel a bill. Rely on multiple checks from different categories before you call it suspect.
Side-By-Side Comparison Helps
When possible, compare with a known good $100 from your till or safe. Match the color shift, the ribbon’s motion, and the thread location. Differences jump out fast when both notes sit under the same light.
What To Do After A Bad Bill Shows Up
Stay calm and keep conversation short. Tell the customer you need to verify the cash and you’ll call a supervisor. Keep the note in view, avoid folding it, and place it in a sleeve. Contact local police for next steps. Don’t hand the note back or attempt to exchange it at a bank; counterfeit notes are seized and not reimbursed.
Simple Workflow For Busy Counters
Adopt a 10-second path: tilt, ribbon, watermark, thread. If the bill passes all four, proceed. If one step fails, hold payment, bring a supervisor, and switch to a different tender or card. A short posted script keeps lines moving and lowers tension.
Peer-To-Peer Sales And Meet-Ups
Meet in a bright, public place. Bring a small UV light and a loupe. Check the ribbon and the bell first, then use the light for the thread. If the buyer or seller rushes you or objects to a brief check, end the deal. Safety comes first.
Travel And Out-Of-Country Tips
Exchange offices and banks outside the U.S. also check these features. When you’re carrying $100s on a trip, keep notes flat and dry so features read cleanly at the counter. Present one note at a time and let the clerk inspect with their lamp.
Myths That Waste Time
- “Blue ribbon must be printed.” It is woven in the paper and should show motion.
- “All real notes smell a certain way.” Smell isn’t a reliable screen.
- “A bank will swap a fake for a real one.” Counterfeit bills aren’t reimbursed.
Build A Quick Reference Kit
Stock a pocket UV light, a 10× loupe, a sleeve for holding suspect notes, and a one-page checklist. Place the kit beside the till. Train new staff on day one and refresh monthly with a two-minute drill.
Where Each Feature Sits
Front side: blue ribbon in the center, bell-in-the-inkwell near the lower right, color-shifting 100 in the lower right corner, security thread left of the portrait. Back side: large 100 in gold ink on the right, raised lines across the vignette. Knowing where to glance speeds up your checks.
If You Accept Lots Of Cash
Rotate a sample bill through staff hands each shift so everyone memorizes the look and feel. Keep a small UV lamp plugged in at the counter. Add a simple sign that says large notes may be verified. Clear expectations reduce friction with customers.
Final Safeguards That Take Seconds
- Scan edges for white borders or misaligned cuts.
- Check for washed-out microtext under a loupe.
- Glance at the serial numbers for smears or mismatched tones.
- Confirm the thread location by holding to light, then verify the pink glow under UV.
- Finish with the tilt check for the bell-in-the-inkwell and the corner “100.”