The Saskatoon Police Service Economic Crime Section is alerting the public to a series of recent incidents where counterfeit currency was used to complete transactions in both the peer-to-peer buy and sell market and retail environment.

Since November, police have received eight reports of fraud involving counterfeit currency. In recent days, two separate incidents involving counterfeit hundred-dollar bills defrauded a business and an individual of several thousand dollars.

Businesses and individuals are encouraged to inspect bills thoroughly when accepting cash to complete a transaction. Modern Canadian bills, known as the Frontiers series, are made from a single piece of polymer material; additional security features to watch for include:

• A colourized holographic portrait and building in the large transparent window that changes colour when tilted. Flip it over to see the same from the back.
• A transparent outline on the frosted maple leaf window
• Maple leaves that border and cross into the large transparent window
• Raised ink on the large number and the words “Banque du Canada” and “Bank of Canada”
• Compare serial numbers; each bill should have its own unique serial number

Community members are reminded of the Buy and Sell Exchange Zone parking stalls located in the west visitor parking lot of the SPS HQ where safe property transactions can be conducted; these stalls are marked with green paint and signage.

If you believe you’ve been the victim of a counterfeit currency transaction, contact your local police. To report such incidents to the Saskatoon Police Service, call 306-975-8300. To learn more about the security features of modern Canadian bills, visit the Bank of Canada website.