Police are warning residents and businesses to be aleart after a rash of counterfeit money has been making its way through the region.
Roger Pecorella makes his money making pizzas in Alliston and as the man in charge he keeps close eye on the oven as well as the cash register. He says every dollar counts in a small business so he makes sure his employees know how to spot counterfeit bills.
“Usually on the right hand side you see a smaller imprint of the queen, and if it's not there it would stand out in your mind that it's possibly a counterfeit.”
But now Pecorella and his staff will have to know what to look for in American bills too.
According to police, counterfeit American $50 bills have been circulating recently. The funny money has turned up in Alliston, Midland, Owen, Parry Sound and Barrie.
Stephanie McKibbon is a fraud investigator with Barrie Police and says some fake bills are better than others but everybody who handles cash should be familiar with the security features on the bank notes.
The latest counterfeit bill don’t have the black light security feature and aren’t as detailed in their print.
“If you suspect that somebody is passing a counterfeit bill you have the right to ask for a different bill or a different method of payment. If you do come into contact with a bill we suggest you make note of the details such as the date time to you can pass that information to police along with suspect information even the vehicle they might have been driving," says McKibbon.
The Bank of Canada has a detailed list on their website of the security features on bank notes and if you suspect that so one has passed you a counterfeit bill the police want to know about it.
