It isn’t just shifty touts or unscrupulous shopkeepers who will try to sneak you a fake; there are tales of counterfeit 100s being dished out by ATMs around the city, or pedicab (and regular cab) drivers who return your cash saying your note is fake (or that they have no change)—after making a quick switch. If you’ve seen taxi drivers immediately ascertain whether your cash is legit with a quick flick or a feel and wished you had those mad skills, this is how you do it!

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1. Finding Mao

Reach for your nearest RMB100 note and gaze upon the face of Chairman Mao, proud defender of all our monies. In the white space to the left, you should be able to spot an outline of the same image, vaguely visible even against a flat surface. Hold it up to the light and details come into clear view. That’s the easiest way to both test and convincingly duplicate cash.

2. Rub Shoulders with the Chairman

If you look really closely, you’ll see that Mao’s hair is textured. Go ahead and give those silky smooth locks a rub; you’ll feel a slight difference. The quintessential collar beckons with texture that stands out a lot more than his hair. Give that a quick feel (or trace a fingernail across it) and see if you can feel your money’s worth.

In the bottom right corner, you’ll find a series of dots and dashes—that’s the value of your note in Braille. These, too, should be textured.

3. Everything Comes Full Circle

Now, fold in both sides of your dolla-dolla bill and see if the pretty patterns that run near the top on the back side match up. Both ends of your note should meet perfectly with the patterns running a straight course, while fakes can often appear out of line (and fake money is totally out of line). Try this on the opposite side of your bill and a perfect oval should form (pictured). Folding your note top-down reveals more matching patterns.

On the front of your note you’ll spot a red semi-circle and half a square, and its blue counterpart round the back. Holding this up to the light, the two come together, forming one full circle that encases a square, similar to the old coins of China.

4. Shiny on the Inside

If you look on the Mao side of your bill, the metallic security line that runs down the note appears as one straight line, while on the reverse side it appears as dotted, shiny lines (notes printed in the ’90s are less shiny in nature). The shiny bits should appear almost like they are in the note, rather than on the note.

5. Flick Off

If there ever was a way to test your money like a boss, surely flicking it to determine its authenticity based on pure sound is the coolest way there is. The best way to hone your hearing to worthless intruders is to find one first (see steps above). Once you’ve got yourself a fake, give it a flick (you’ve probably seen taxi drivers do this countless times) with a genuine note as your control.

Keep practicing until you know the hollow, bleak sound of fake promises in your wallet. Master this step and you’re officially a money-testing, quick-flicking, scam-avoiding laoban.

Other Quick Tips

6. Your note is full of textured tresses and embossed surfaces. Familiarize yourself with the little details of the RMB100 note, like the WordArt-style “RMB100” that fills the background behind Mao, or the tiny “RMB100” filling the pink 100 next to the seal in the top left corner.

7. Look out for the color of the 100 on the bottom left corner (it should be green), or the texture of the lines that come down the right side.

8. In the oval seal on Mao’s right, there’s a tricky hidden 100 that reveals itself when held flat and at eye level. It’s like a Magic Eye trick that you need to adjust your eyes to.

9. Keep an eye out for reports of fake serial numbers.

10. Check the year of print, which can be found on the back side of your note. Notes marked 1999 are of a different make than those labeled 2005, so don’t fret just yet if your note doesn’t fit the bill.