Banknotes contain hidden prostitutes

KIEV, Ukraine, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Several scantily clad women thought to be prostitutes are visible on a new set of fake banknotes being dispersed in Ukraine, officials say.

Officials say the counterfeit euro notes and the figures they contain are part of a campaign aimed at decreasing the number of sex workers in Ukraine, The Daily Telegraph said Wednesday.

The counterfeit bills feature female figures leaning against notable structures that normally adorn the banknotes. The fake notes look nearly identical to their real counterparts, except they include a warning regarding the potential downside of entering the sex trade in Ukraine and the European Union.

The prostitute-laden bills are the most recent attempt by Ukrainian officials to fight the rising number of sex workers in the former Soviet state, the Telegraph said.

The newspaper said more than 12,000 sex workers are estimated to be operating in Ukraine, drawing an increasing number of wealthy tourists to the country.