VIENTIANE: The Bank of the Lao PDR has issued an urgent warning after finding counterfeit 100,000 kip banknotes in circulation, calling on all citizens to be on the alert and carefully inspect notes before making or accepting payments.
According to Notice No. 143, issued on July 7, a group of unscrupulous individuals has been distributing fake 100,000 kip banknotes, specifically the 2020 series, with the first fake notes detected in Houn district, Oudomxay province.
Authorities revealed that one counterfeit note bore the serial number AA 0435235.
The forged notes were crudely produced by replicating authentic banknotes on standard A4 paper and attaching a fraudulent security thread designed to mimic genuine features.
“These counterfeits are intended to deceive unsuspecting members of the public,” the central bank warned.
The Bank of the Lao PDR is urging traders, civil servants, students, soldiers, police and the wider public to examine 100,000 kip notes carefully to ensure they have official security features.
In the event of encountering counterfeit banknotes or identifying their source, citizens are advised to contact local police or report to the Bank of the Lao PDR Printing Department at 020 58007361 or 020 59999632.
Additional support is available from the Bank of the Lao PDR branches in Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, Xiengkhouang, Savannakhet, and Champasak provinces, as well as commercial banks nationwide.
This is not the first time fake currency has been detected. In April 2024, Bokeo province faced a similar wave of counterfeit circulation. The Bank of the Lao PDR issued a warning after discovering fake 50,000‑kip notes—printouts with forged security strips—with serial numbers ranging from AZ 0218001 to AZ 0218999. - Vientiane Times/ANN
