The Halton Regional Police, Fraud Unit would like to warn local area merchants of a recent surge in Canadian counterfeit currency that has been circulating in the region.
The police have taken eleven Canadian counterfeit note reports in the last two weeks all involving the same counterfeit $100 dollar Canadian bills of the new polymer design.
Local merchants are cautioned to be extra vigilant when accepting $100 dollar bills especially when being used for small purchases that would maximize the amount of change given.
Multiple suspects have been described as passing the bills and police suspect that an outside group came to the region with the sole purpose of attempting to pass the bills.
Anyone who may have witnessed or has information about the distribution of Canadian counterfeit currency in Halton Region are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers “See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at http://www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
Bank of Canada's position on Canadian Counterfeit Currency
The Bank of Canada takes counterfeiting very seriously and responds by:
- researching and developing new notes with innovative security features that are both easy to check and hard to counterfeit
- working with police agencies and prosecutors to monitor and respond to counterfeiting activity teaching Canadians - especially those who handle cash on the job - how to quickly check their bank notes
- providing Canadians with quality notes, and a secure form of payment that they can use with confidence
Expect the Check!
Checking bank notes protects everyone, so don’t be offended if a cashier carefully examines your bills. Routinely checking the security features of all notes - large and small - allows cashiers to intercept counterfeits and keep them out of the till and out of your change.
Know Your Notes
Security features are helpful only if you use them. To fight counterfeiting, the Bank offers free training materials to help the public, businesses, and police agencies use the security features in genuine bank notes. If you know your notes, you’ll be able to detect a counterfeit at a glance and protect yourself from fraud.
Dealing with Suspicious Money
Making or passing Canadian counterfeit notes is a criminal offence and should be reported.
What to do if you suspect that you have been offered Canadian counterfeit notes during a transaction:
Assess the situation to ensure that you are not at risk. Then do the following:
- Politely refuse the note and explain that you suspect that it may be counterfeit.
- Ask for another note (and check it too).
- Advise the person to check the note with the local police.
- Inform your local police of a possible attempt to pass suspected counterfeit money.
- Be courteous. Remember that the person in possession of the bill could be an innocent victim who does not realize that the note is suspicious.
What to do if you suspect that a Canadian currency note is counterfeit after a transaction:
- Give it to the local police. If it’s real, you’ll get it back.
Either way, the police should be informed of possible counterfeiting activity in your community. Timely reporting helps police and prosecutors bring counterfeiters to justice.