NEW WESTMINSTER: Police seized C$11,000 in counterfeit bank notes at a Safeway store in New Westminster after employees identified suspicious cash and contacted officers, adding to a string of counterfeit currency cases that police services across British Columbia have flagged in recent weeks. Authorities said the seized notes were in C$50 and C$100 denominations, the same values that have featured in recent warnings elsewhere in the province, where investigators have urged retailers and consumers to closely examine polymer bills before accepting them.
The New Westminster seizure comes as police in other B.C. communities report a rise in counterfeit cash being used at local businesses. North Vancouver RCMP said this month they had received at least 11 reports in the previous two months involving high quality counterfeit C$50 and C$100 notes. Nanaimo RCMP issued a similar warning in late February, saying officers there had received at least 17 reports over the same period, pointing to a broader pattern affecting multiple communities rather than an isolated incident.
Police in those cases said the seized notes shared several characteristics that made them appear convincing at first glance. Investigators said the bills were made from plastic similar to genuine Canadian polymer currency, carried holographic style elements intended to imitate real security features, and in some cases bore identical serial numbers. Those details have raised concern among retailers because the fakes can resemble authentic notes closely enough to pass quickly through routine transactions if cashiers do not pause to inspect them.
Counterfeit warnings widen in B.C.
The financial loss from counterfeit currency typically falls on the person or business that accepts it. Police and the Bank of Canada say anyone who unknowingly takes a fake note cannot be reimbursed once it is identified and removed from circulation, making early detection critical for stores and service workers. That has prompted law enforcement agencies to stress quick reporting and careful note verification, especially in cash heavy settings such as grocery stores, restaurants, convenience outlets and other front line retail operations.
The Bank of Canada advises businesses and consumers to use the standard “feel, look and tilt” method when checking polymer notes. Genuine notes have a transparent window and other security features that are difficult to reproduce accurately, and the central bank says routine checks remain the best defense against counterfeit cash entering day to day circulation. Its guidance for retailers also says suspected counterfeit notes should be turned over to local police, along with any information that may help investigators trace where the bills were passed.
Retailers urged to check polymer notes
In New Westminster, the case highlighted the role of store staff in interrupting the spread of fake currency before it moves from one transaction to the next. Police have said the department has seen more counterfeit currency reports this year than during the same period last year, a rise that mirrors the warnings issued by RCMP detachments elsewhere in the province. The Safeway seizure removed a sizable batch of suspect notes from circulation at once, limiting the immediate risk of those bills being passed to other businesses or consumers.
Authorities across British Columbia are continuing to urge retailers, employees and the public to examine cash carefully, compare suspicious notes with genuine ones when possible, and contact police if a bill appears fraudulent. With recent cases in New Westminster, North Vancouver and Nanaimo all involving counterfeit C$50 and C$100 notes, officials are warning that vigilance at the point of sale remains the most effective step to keep fake currency out of the payment system. – By Content Syndication Services.