Public Safety Alert, Counterfeiters see summer festival season as opportunity to pass fake money

Public Safety Alert, Counterfeiters see summer festival season as opportunity to pass fake money

Thursday, June 30, 2016 - 8:31 AM
Financial Crimes:  416-808-7300

The Toronto Police Service, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Bank of Canada are reminding the public and retailers to check the security features in all banknotes. 

The busy summer period, with festivals and special events taking place in the GTA, calls for heightened vigilance. Counterfeiters look for such opportunities to pass fake banknotes.

Cash-handlers and the public can easily detect counterfeit bills - polymer and paper - by simply checking their security features. Police encourage everyone to check two or more security features during cash transactions. This is the best defence against getting a counterfeit. Compare any suspect note with one you know is genuine. The same advice also applies to U.S. banknotes.

If you come across a banknote you believe to be counterfeit, ask for another banknote (and check it, too). Also contact your local police about a possible attempt of counterfeiting activity in your community. If you find yourself in possession of a suspected fake, don’t pass it on. It’s a criminal offence to knowingly pass counterfeit money on to someone else. All denominations in the most recent series of polymer notes have the same security features. Once you know how to check one banknote, you can check them all. 

Visit the Bank of Canada’s website to learn more about current and older series notes. The Bank also provides free training and materials on how to check banknotes. For more information, call toll-free 1-800-303-1282 or email info@bankofcanada.ca.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7300, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.

Please download the Toronto Police Service Mobile App for iOS or Android.

For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.

Constable Allyson Douglas-Cook, Corporate Communications, for Detective Sergeant Rob Stewart, Financial Crimes Unit