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Roosve: Be Modern, Pay with a Card
In order not to fall victim to counterfeiters, the Bank of Estonia's cash and security director Rait Roosve favors paying with a bank card.
"Be modern; use alternative payment options. Credit and debit cards: use them. There isn't this [counterfeiting] risk with them. Estonia is a very developed country. We have unbelievably good opportunities to pay with a card even in the tiniest village stores," Roosve said in an interview on ETV.
That said, observed Roosve, cash has its place and there are times when it is the comfortable payment option. His recommendation: take time and examine banknotes.
"First of all, feel the bank note. It's essential to feel the raised letters on the edge," said Roosve. "Even a guitar player's fingers can feel the higher part." Roosve added that the second essential item, one very difficult to forge, is the watermark.
"The majority of counterfeit bills are of very primitive quality," said Roosve, noting that high quality work is very rare.
