Cobourg police are calling on businesses and residents to exercise vigilance after reports of counterfeit cash circulating locally.
The call comes amid a broader trend also being observed across Ontario communities, said the Cobourg Police Service, in a recent alert.
In one recent report locally, police said a resident sold an item through an online marketplace and was paid with Canadian $100 bills later determined to be counterfeit and bearing identical serial numbers.
Police noted their investigation is still ongoing.
However, the incident has police again encouraging any citizens who regularly handle cash to familiarize themselves with security features built into Canadian banknotes and to understand what steps to take if a counterfeit bill is suspected.
Common warning signs of counterfeit currency include missing or poorly imitated security features, text or images that appear fuzzy, uneven or pixelated, and bills that feel unusually stiff, slippery or thin, said police.
To help identify counterfeit cash, police also recommend using the “Feel, Look and Flip” method, which residents can learn more about by clicking here. This method is also recommended by the Bank of Canada.
Meanwhile, if people suspect they received a counterfeit bill, police said don’t return the bill to the person who provided and instead handle the bill as little as possible and contact police as soon as possible.
People also shouldn’t argue or accuse anyone and if it is safe to do, note a description of the person and how the bill was received.
The service is also recommending businesses train staff on how to recognize counterfeit cash and establish clear procedures for handling suspected counterfeit bills.
Businesses and residents can access additional training resources through the Bank of Canada’s Employee Handbook online.
