Knowing which banknotes are most frequently counterfeited in Mexico can help you avoid falling victim to fraud.

Mexico currently has six denominations in circulation: 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 pesos. But not all are targeted equally by counterfeiters.

Which banknote is counterfeited the most?
According to data from the Bank of Mexico (Banxico), the 500-peso bill is the most counterfeited in the country, with 466,944 fake notes detected. That’s more than double the number of counterfeit 200-peso bills, which came in second with 197,216 fake copies. In third place is the 50-peso bill, followed by the 100-, 1,000-, and 20-peso denominations.

In total, authorities have identified 922,763 counterfeit bills, representing 309.3 million pesos in fake currency either in circulation or intercepted before reaching the public.

Estimated value of counterfeit notes per denomination
Here’s a breakdown of how much fake currency has been found for each denomination and what those totals could hypothetically buy:

  • 20 pesos – 880 fake bills worth 17,600 pesos (enough for an iPhone 15 Pro Max)

  • 50 pesos – 160,484 bills worth 8 million pesos (a 200 m² apartment in Álvaro Obregón, CDMX)

  • 100 pesos – 76,508 bills worth 7.6 million pesos (a Lamborghini Aventador)

  • 200 pesos – 197,216 bills worth 39.4 million pesos (a luxury yacht like the Absolute 56 FLY)

  • 500 pesos – 466,944 bills worth 233.5 million pesos (two Golden Card EU visas and a Manhattan apartment)

  • 1,000 pesos – 20,731 bills worth 20.7 million pesos (a high-end AI-generated artwork)

How to spot a fake banknote
Banxico advises using these simple techniques—no special tools required:

  • Touch – Authentic bills have a firm texture and raised printing you can feel.

  • Look at the light – Check for a watermark, security thread, hidden number, and serial number alignment.

  • Tilt the note – Look for dynamic security features like color-changing elements, a 3D thread, and shifting designs.

Being aware of these signs can help you quickly identify counterfeit bills and protect yourself from scams.