Posted on 05/15/2009, 7:12 am, by mySteinbach

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is advising business owners and members of the public to be aware that there are counterfeit Canadian 20, 50 and 100-dollar bills in circulation in Winnipeg.

The RCMP has received reports of counterfeit bills since May 13, 2009. Most of the counterfeit bills were detected once they’d reached banks in Winnipeg and it appears they were passed at a variety of local businesses including restaurants, gas stations and sporting goods, clothing and department stores. The bills are all from the “Canadian Journey” series with images on the front of Prime Ministers MacKenzie King (on the $50) and Sir Robert Borden (on the $100) and the Queen (on the $20).

The most obvious signs that these bills are counterfeit can be found on the left hand side of the front of the bill. A genuine bank note from this series has a metallic, holographic, vertical stripe. On the counterfeit bills, the stripe has been attached and appears to be from a five or ten-dollar bill of the same series.  The edge of the stripe appears blue or purple and does not match the colour scheme of the genuine bills; the hologram stripe also shows the number “5” instead of “50” or “10” instead of “100”.  On the counterfeit twenty-dollar bill, the stripe is not holographic at all.

Other signs to watch for: genuine currency has raised ink or “intaglio” printing, meaning it feels thicker to the touch, especially on the large numerals, the portrait, coat of arms and image of the parliament buildings; genuine bills have a watermark or “ghost image” of the portrait in the approximate centre of the note, which can be seen when you hold the bill up to the light; and the print should have very fine details including concentric circles in the eyes of the portrait (the fake bills have blurred printing). One of the best ways to make comparisons is to use a known genuine note as you examine a bill you suspect to be a fake.

Business owners should educate staff on the security features of Canadian currency. The website of the Bank of Canada has very detailed information available on the security features of the “Canadian Journey” series of bills.

Business owners should also counsel staff on what to do if they suspect currency to be counterfeit. The method of payment in any transaction has to be acceptable to the seller, so a business may refuse to take currency suspected to be counterfeit. Instead, employees should note a description of the person and phone police immediately. It may be that the individual in possession of the bill is unaware that it is counterfeit. An investigation by police would determine the appropriate action. Anyone who comes into possession of a bill suspected to be counterfeit should contact police.

Police also remind the public that anyone who knowingly passes a counterfeit bill is committing a criminal offence and is subject to
prosecution.

More information about detecting counterfeit currency can be found at the website of the Bank of Canada.

Dan Bresciani, Sgt.
RCMP Winnipeg Commercial Crime Section
(204) 983-7278