Saugeen Shores police say they have taken several calls about local businesses receiving counterfeit $100 and $50 bills.
Police are encouraging you to inspect bills during transactions and report any suspicious activity 519-832-2500.
Saugeen Shores police note, “In order to investigate these crimes properly we will need to know the date the transaction happened or was attempted, time, description of the suspect / vehicle / licence plate or access to any security camera footage.”
The Bank of Canada says on its website, you can verify the authenticity of a bill by looking, feeling, tilting and flipping a bill.
They say to feel for the smooth, unique texture of the note, which is made from a single piece of polymer with some transparent areas. They say if you touch the portrait, the large number and the words “Bank of Canada” on the front, they should feel raised. The word “Canada” in or around the large transparent window should also feel slightly raised.
They say you can look at the metallic portrait in the large transparent window, and it should match the large portrait on the front of the note. The numbers in that window will also match the value of the bill.
You can tilt the top of the note towards yourself and the colour will change in the metallic portrait and other holographic features, on both the front and back.
If you flip the bill, the metallic portrait in the transparent window will match the large portrait on the front.
The Bank of Canada says, if you suspect you’re being offered a counterfeit note, be courteous and remember the person in possession of the note may be an innocent victim who doesn’t realize it is suspicious.
The bank says to politely refuse the note and explain that you suspect it may be counterfeit. They say you can ask for another note (and check it, too), and advise the person to check the note with the local police. The bank says you should inform your local police service of a possible attempt to use suspected counterfeit money.