DNA Verified: Are Rs 500 notes with star symbol fake? Know truth here

Fake news is one of the biggest problems these days. Many people fall prey to misinformation. A few weeks ago, one such news was circulated on social media, including WhatsApp, regarding Rs 500 banknotes. Rs 500 notes with a star (*) symbol were claimed to be fake and the banks are returning them.

A user on X wrote, "These 500 notes with * symbol have started circulating in the market. Such note was returned from IndusInd Bank yesterday. This is a fake note.  Even today, a friend received 2-3 such notes from a customer, but immediately returned them due to lack of attention."

However, the claim turned out to be fake. According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), The star (*) symbol is an identifier that it is a replaced/reprinted banknote. The fact-check session of the central government nodal agency, PIB, also debunked the fake news. In a tweet, it said, "Star marked(*)₹500 banknotes have been in circulation since December 2016." It also attached an RBI circular from 2016, which stated that ‘star’ banknotes in Rs 500 denomination are being issued for the first time. ‘Star’ banknotes in the denomination of Rs 10, 20, 50 and 100 are already in circulation. Check the tweet below:

Do you have a 500 note with a star symbol 

Are you worried it's fake

Fret no morePIBFactCheck

The message deeming such notes as fake is false!

Star marked 500 banknotes have been in circulation since December 2016

Read: https://t.co/hNXwYyhPna pic.twitter.com/Wp5M0WCOZl

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) January 12, 2024

Hence, the notes with the star symbol are genuine and valid. The asterisk (*) was introduced on the new Rs 500 banknotes in December 2016.