Ontario Provincial Police is warning the public after several counterfeit $20 bills were found in the Leamington area.

Police say the fake bank notes are “more noticeably counterfeit” because they have foreign words predominantly displayed on either side of the bills.

Anyone with information about these fake bills is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

The Bank of Canada has offered the following tips for checking, preventing, and reporting counterfeit money.

Expect the Check!
Checking bank notes protects everyone, so don’t be offended if a cashier carefully examines your bills. Routinely checking the security features of all notes – large and small – allows cashiers to intercept counterfeits and keep them out of the till and out of your change.

Know Your Notes
Security features are helpful only if you use them. To fight counterfeiting, the Bank offers free training materials to help the public, businesses, and police agencies use the security features in genuine bank notes. If you know your notes, you’ll be able to detect a counterfeit at a glance and protect yourself from fraud.

Dealing with Suspicious Money
Making or passing counterfeit notes is a criminal offence and should be reported.

What to do if you suspect that you have been offered a counterfeit note during a transaction:
Assess the situation to ensure that you are not at risk. Then do the following:

• Politely refuse the note and explain that you suspect that it may be counterfeit.
• Ask for another note (and check it too).
• Advise the person to check the note with the local police.
• Inform your local police of a possible attempt to pass suspected counterfeit money.
• Be courteous. Remember that the person in possession of the bill could be an innocent victim who does not realize that the note is suspicious