Counterfeit $100 bills circulating through Lachute and Hawkesbury

Shop owners and residents in Lachute and Hawkesbury are being advised by their respective police forces to be on the lookout after seven instances in two weeks in which businesses have reported customers attempting to pay for purchases using counterfeit $100 bills.

According to Sûreté du Quebec Sgt. Gilles Mitchell, the counterfeit bills are isolated to the Canadian Journey Series, which have been in circulation since 2004.

The Ontario Provincial Police detachment in Hawkesbury is reporting a similar increase in counterfeit currency circulation in the past two weeks. Const. Pierre Dubois said detectives from the Hawkesbury detachment have been investigating four of these instances of fraud involving $50 American and $100 Canadian notes.

The Caisse Populaire in Hawkesbury notified police when a client attempted to pass three counterfeit $50 bank notes from the United States on January 23. A Hawkesbury taxi driver then reported a second attempt to use a fake $50 bill on February 5.

A counterfeit $100 Canadian note was reported in a Hawkesbury store on January 28 and again on February 3 at the CIBC. Similar to the cases in Lachute, these $100 bills were of the older, Journey Series variety.

"In these four cases no one was charged or has been identified as a suspect," said Dubois. "The hardest thing about counterfeits is proving that the person knew about the bill."

According to Dubois, the surge in the number of counterfeit bills being reported in the area is unusually high, given that in the past year there was a total of 18 cases reported to the detachment.

Police say anyone who deals with $100 bank notes should verify the bills carefully and when they tilt the note, the numbers and maple leaves on the metallic strip should change colour.

These bills feature six security features that are designed to make it harder to replicate them and which provide a visual checklist for anyone wishing to verify their money. When put up to the light, a small ghost-like image of the portrait featured on the bill should appear on either side of the note and the dashes on the bill should form a solid line that changes from gold to green. The light will also reveal that irregular marks on the note are actually a solid number reflecting the value of the note.

Raised ink makes it easier for those with limited sight to also identify counterfeit bills. A legitimate bill should have raised ink on the shoulders of the portrait, as well as the large numbers and the words "Bank of Canada - Banque du Canada."

"Some are very well made and hard to detect," said Dubois.

Last November, the Bank of Canada released a new series of polymer-based $100 bank notes that are expected to increase their life cycle and reduce fraud. The new $100 bank notes will gradually replace the older paper models, as other denominations gradually begin circulating - the next being the $50 bank notes in March.

If counterfeit money comes into your possession, you are encouraged to report it to the police and you should not attempt to pass it on. Retailers are encouraged by the Bank of Canada to politely refuse suspicious money and ask to be paid in another manner, or using another bank note. Retailers should also ask their clients to turn in suspicious money to the police and report the transaction themselves.

The production, circulation and design of counterfeit currency are prohibited under Section 369 of the Canadian Criminal Code and suspects may face up to 14 years in prison if convicted.

Video tutorials on how to inspect Canadian currency are available online at www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/counterfeit-prevention.