“Police warning Canadians about imitation $100 polymer bills”

By: Priscilla - May 17th 2013

Fabricated versions of Canada’s virtually counterfeit-proof polymer bills have sparked a police warning in New Westminster.

CTVNews.ca Staff 

Published Thursday, May 16, 2013 10:46AM EDT

Canadians are being warned to keep an eye out for counterfeit $100 polymer bills after seven imitation notes were discovered late last month in British Columbia.

The mock bills, which lack several of the security elements featured on the genuine notes, were first reported on April 28 when a grocery store in B.C. mistakenly accepted two fake $100 notes, police in New Westminster said.

“This is the first instance where we’ve seen them being counterfeit,” Sgt. Diana McDaniel told CTV British Columbia on Wednesday. Several days after the first fake bills were discovered, police said five more imitation bills were reported when an individual attempted, unsuccessfully, to deposit them at a bank.

Counterfeit $100 polymer bill

In this undated photo, police in New Westminster hold up a counterfeit $100 polymer bill (top) and a genuine one.

McDaniel said it’s possible that some people may have mock notes in their wallets without knowing. “We want to alert the public that if someone is coming to purchase something, they may have counterfeit bills mixed in with legitimate bills.”