Two recent cases of counterfeit cash turning up in New Westminster have police asking the public to report any suspicious bills.
According to police, between April 26 and May 4, officers were called to two separate locations to investigate possible counterfeit $100 bills. The first incident - at a local grocery store - turned up two fake $100 bills and about a week later five more counterfeit bills were seized at a local bank.
"A male was at a local area bank trying to deposit five of these $100 bills and, of course the bank being the bank, they recognized it right away and they phoned (the police)," said Staff Sgt. Paul Hyland of the New Westminster Police Department.
The police confirmed the bills were fake in both cases and are continuing to search for the man who used the fake money at the grocery store, he said.
As for the man who tried to deposit the counterfeit bills at the bank, Hyland said he has been very cooperative and police don't believe he knowingly tried to deposit the bills. Police are now trying to determine where he would have gotten the fake bills.
"I don't know if we'd ever determine where the bills come from. It's my understanding that it's the first time we've seen counterfeit polymer bills, but I believe it's not the first time it's been counterfeited in the country," he added.
Hyland said one of the easiest ways to identify a counterfeit bill is to look for the raised printing.
Other security features of the new polymer bills include a transparent window with numbers printed inside, the metallic portrait, and the serial numbers.
For more information on how to determine a fake bill from the real thing, visit www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/banknote-series/polymer. If you suspect you have a counterfeit bill, contact the New Westminster police at 604-525-5411 or take the bills to a bank.
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