Counterfeit bank notes in circulation.

Red Deer RCMP have dealt with approximately 40 counterfeit money files in the past month and are warning the public to be vigilant.

“We have issued warnings about counterfeit money and we’ve made several arrests, but the number of files we’re seeing indicates that there are a number of different groups or individuals who are regularly attempting to pass counterfeit cash right now,” says Sergeant Rob Marsollier of the Red Deer RCMP. “Most of the files have dealt with Canadian counterfeit bills, but we’ve also seen a handful of counterfeit American currency.”

Since June 29, Red Deer RCMP have dealt with approximately 40 counterfeit money files and seized several variations of counterfeit Canadian currency, from $5 bills to $100 bills. The Canadian counterfeit bills have been used successfully and unsuccessfully at almost 40 different Red Deer businesses, including: grocery, convenience and department stores; restaurants and fast food outlets; banks; casinos; lounges and bars; clothing stores; and gas stations. RCMP also seized almost $1000 worth of counterfeit US bills from one man in a recent arrest at the G.H. Dawe Centre on July 26.

RCMP urge businesses to take the time to educate their staff about what to look for:

• Colour photocopies of Canadian $20, $50 and $100 bills that have the clear polymer window from legitimate, lower-denomination bills spliced and attached onto the photocopies. These copies feel like paper rather than legitimate Canadian money, and the polymer inset is often badly taped onto the copy (see photos).

• Formerly legitimate $5 and $10 bills that have had the polymer strip removed, presumably for use on counterfeit currency, and then been passed as legitimate (see photos).

• Some of the photocopies are slightly smaller than normal Canadian bills.

• Visit www.bankofcanada.ca to learn more about the many security features on Canadian currency.

“It’s not difficult to see and feel that the bills we’ve seized so far are counterfeit, so we’re urging everyone who handles cash to take an extra second to examine all bills that they’re given,” Marsollier says. “You have the right to refuse to accept suspicious looking bills, and that vigilance will keep you from being victimized and save your business money.”

If you have information about counterfeit files in Red Deer, please contact the Red Deer RCMP at 403.343.5575. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1.800.222.8477 or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com.