Police are warning businesses, locally and regionally, to be careful when accepting United States currency after four incidents involving counterfeit bills were reported in as many days.
PRINCE GEORGE
On April 5, front-line RCMP officers were called to a gas station on 1100-block Pacific Street for a report that one man had come to the store on three separate occasions to purchase $100 VISA gift cards.
An investigation determined at least three of the six $50 U.S. bills he used to pay for the cards had the same serial number.
He's since been identified and arrested, however, he has not yet been charged as the investigation is continuing.
VANDERHOOF
On April 6, a man was arrested on an unrelated warrant and found to be in possession of counterfeit $20 U.S. bills.
He has not been charged for possession of the counterfeit currency as the investigation is still continuing.
The next day (April 7), Mounties received a report from an employee at a local coffee shop, where a counterfeit $50 U.S. had been discovered.
The suspect was described as wearing a bandana and getting into a long-haul truck prior to driving away.
FRASER LAKE
On April 8, officers were called to investigate at a gas station, where a man allegedly used two $50 U.S. bills to pay for his transaction and then departed in a big green truck.
"While one person has been arrested, we don’t yet know how much of the counterfeit U.S. currency remains in circulation. We are asking business owners to review the tips below, offered by the U.S. government on how to recognize counterfeit currency," states S/Sgt. Janelle Shoihet of the B.C. RCMP in a release this morning (April 12).
Tips to recognize counterfeit currency:
- Feel The Paper
- Move your finger across the note. It should feel slightly rough to the touch because of the printing process and the unique composition of the paper
- Tilt The Note
- Tilt the note to see the ink in the numbers on the lower right corner change colour
- On the current style of notes, the colour should change from copper to green
- Check with Light
- Hold the note to light to check that the watermark and security thread are visible from the front and back of the note
Visit uscurrency.gov for more information and training resources on authenticating current and older styles of U.S. currency.
"Although we are asking business owners to review these tips with employees, these tips can be equally valuable to those selling items through online marketplaces, when dealing with individuals who wish to pay using US cash," adds S/Sgt. Shoihet.
Anyone who has information about these incidents is asked to report to the police in their jurisdiction.
