Can Fake Pakistani Currency Notes Be Identified by Serial Numbers?
Published On 14 May, 2026
Claim: Viral social media posts claim that Pakistani currency notes starting with certain serial number prefixes, such as “AF”, “CE” or “HO”, are fake.
Verdict: False
Viral posts on social media are claiming that fake Pakistani currency notes can be identified by checking the starting letters of their serial numbers. The posts allege that a Rs500 note starting with “AF”, a Rs1,000 note starting with “CE”, and a Rs5,000 note starting with “HO” should be considered counterfeit.
However, this claim is false. There is no official mechanism in Pakistan that declares currency notes fake only on the basis of their serial number prefixes.
According to Geo Fact-Check, a representative of the State Bank of Pakistan confirmed that the viral claim is inaccurate. The official advised citizens to rely only on verified information issued through the State Bank’s official website and social media platforms.
Geo Fact-Check also reviewed the State Bank of Pakistan’s official website and verified social media accounts but found no advisory or warning about fake notes being identified through prefixes such as “AF”, “CE” or “HO”.
What Was Claimed?
A viral Facebook post shared images of Pakistani currency notes and claimed that:
A Rs500 note with the prefix “AF” is fake.
A Rs1,000 note with the prefix “CE” is fake.
A Rs5,000 note with the prefix “HO” is fake.
The post gained wide attention, receiving thousands of likes and shares. Similar claims were also circulated on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
What Is the Truth?
The claim is incorrect. Currency notes cannot be declared fake only by looking at the first two letters of their serial numbers.
The State Bank of Pakistan has issued no such warning. Citizens should check currency notes through official security features, not through viral social media claims.
Final Verdict
The claim that Pakistani currency notes with serial number prefixes such as “AF”, “CE” or “HO” are fake is false. The State Bank of Pakistan has not issued any advisory supporting this claim.
