Mumbai, August 1: A message is going viral on social media, claiming INR 500 currency notes bearing a star (*) symbol in the number panel are fake. However, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has debunked the fake claim. The PIB Fact Check issued a clear statement affirming the authenticity of INR 500 notes with a star (*) symbol. Contrary to viral claims labelling them as counterfeit. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and PIB Fact Check confirmed that such notes have been in legal circulation since December 2016.

The PIB’s fact-checking unit addressed the issue on the social media platform X, reassuring the public that the star symbol does not indicate forgery. “Do you have an INR 500 note with a star symbol (*)? Are you worried it's fake? Fret no more!” the post read. "The message deeming such notes as fake is false! Star marked(*)₹500 banknotes have been in circulation since December 2016 (sic)," PIB Fact Check said in a post. Is Indian Railways Failing Women? PIB Fact-Check Debunks Misleading Media Report on Kurukshetra Rape Case.

Fake News Claiming INR 500 Notes With a Star Mark Are Fake

No, INR 500 Notes With a Star Mark Are Not Fake

The RBI, in a statement dated July 27, 2023, clarified that star-marked banknotes are replacement notes, introduced to substitute defectively printed ones in packets of 100 serially numbered notes. Fact Check: Are There Potholes on Road Outside NHAI HQ in Delhi? Highway Authority Clarifies on Misleading Claims Made in Viral Video, Attributes Responsibility to Delhi PWD.

The star appears in the number panel between the prefix and serial number and serves as an identifier, nothing more. Apart from this minor feature, these notes retain all standard design elements and security features.

Fact check

Are Star-Marked INR 500 Notes Fake? PIB Fact Check Debunks Fake Viral Message
Claim :

INR 500 currency notes bearing a star (*) symbol in the number panel are fake.

Conclusion :

The claim is false. Star-marked banknotes are replacement notes.

Full of Trash
Clean

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 01, 2025 04:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).