Counterfatti

Counterfatti, in Italian, are items produced to imitate legitimate goods with the intention of deception. The term covers a broad range of counterfeit products—money, documents, consumer goods, art, and digital assets. Counterfeiting seeks to imitate authenticity closely enough to fool buyers, sellers, or authorities, but lacks the legitimacy, provenance, or value of genuine articles.

Currency counterfeiting is a long-standing problem and remains a focus for central banks and law enforcement. Modern banknotes incorporate security features such as watermarks, security threads, microprinting, holograms, color-shift ink, and complex intaglio printing to raise the cost of forgery and enable rapid detection by trained personnel and machines.

Other forms include forged documents (passports, certificates, receipts), counterfeit consumer goods (electronics, fashion items, medications), and art forgeries. In digital contexts, counterfeiting takes the form of fake online accounts, phishing, and forged digital certificates. In all cases, counterfeits rely on misrepresentation of origin, quality, or authority to extract financial advantage.

Legal systems prohibit counterfeiting and impose penalties that vary by jurisdiction and by item. Enforcement combines national authorities, specialized units, and international cooperation. Public education and simple checks—such as verifying serial numbers, examining design details, and using official verification channels—reduce exposure to counterfeit items.