
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, December 10, 1993                   TAG: 9312100149
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

STUDY: COPIERS ENCOURAGE COUNTERFEITING

Color copying machines are so sophisticated and widespread that counterfeiting of U.S. currency has doubled annually since 1989, according to a report released Thursday.

The National Research Council said the federal government must make it harder to copy bills and easier to spot phony money.

Current anti-counterfeiting measures are inadequate to block the threat posed by photocopying machines and printing scanners now on the market, and even better copying equipment is being developed, the council found.

High-quality paper, fine-line engraving and special printing techniques limited major counterfeiting in the past to artisans with access to special printing presses. But not anymore, said Glenn Sincerbox of IBM, chairman of the committee that studied the problem.

If the trend continues, the report said, phony money in circulation could grow to $1.6 billion to $2 billion a year by decade's end. - Associated Press

by CNB