Counterfeit currency on the rise in Halton, police say

Halton police are warning residents and businesses about an increase in counterfeit currency circulating throughout the region.

They say in 2025 authorities received 92 reports involving counterfeit banknotes in Halton. A significant number of those incidents involved suspects using fake cash to buy items from unsuspecting victims through Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace and other online marketplaces.

Along with this, investigators report that counterfeit cash has been circulating in local retail businesses.

Halton officers have provided the following tips and things to lookout for to spot counterfeit bills:

• Repeated serial numbers appearing on multiple banknotes
• Wording such as “Prop Money,” “For Motion Picture Use,” or other non-standard or foreign text, particularly within the holographic strip or elsewhere on the note
• A holographic strip that appears to be a removable sticker or is taped into the transparent window or indicates the incorrect value
• Dull, uneven, or peeling colours and poor print quality
• A noticeable difference in thickness or texture compared to genuine Canadian polymer banknotes

If you believe a bill may be counterfeit, police recommend doing the following:

• Prioritize your personal safety and avoid any action that could place you at risk
• Politely decline the banknote and request an alternative form of payment
• Carefully examine all banknotes before accepting them, particularly during private sales or cash transactions
• Keep in mind that the individual presenting the note may be unaware that it is counterfeit

More information about spotting counterfeit Canadian bills can be found on the Bank of Canada’s website.

Anyone with information related to the circulation or use of counterfeit currency is asked to contact the Halton police Financial Crimes Unit at 905-825-4777.

Those wishing to submit information anonymously can do so through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or on their website.

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