REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MALANG -- Bank Indonesia reported an increase of 21.1 percent in the circulation of counterfeited money in its working area in Malang in 2014.

Head of the Cash Operational Unit of the central bank in Malang Prihatin Sudi Utomo here on Tuesday said there were 5,539 units of paper money found in 2013 and the number rose to 6,707 units in 2014.

"The increase in the number of units of fake money in Malang was attributable to Malang being a tourist destination, even a commercial center of East Java after Surabaya," Prihatin said.

The producers found it easier to use their fake money in a city brisk with economic activity and crowded with tourists, he said, adding on the contrary, in other areas the circulation of fake money declined.

He said the fake bills found were dominated by units in Rp100,000 change reaching 5,190 units or 77.8 percent and Rp50,000 change reaching 1,451 units.

He said most of the fake money had been transferred to Bank Indonesia through banks.

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