UPDATE: Prince George RCMP reporting a “dramatic rise” of counterfeit money reports

This story has been updated with further input from Fort St. John RCMP’s Media Relations Officer, Constable Chad Neustaeter.

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — The Prince George RCMP are warning businesses to take extra precautions while conducting cash transactions due to counterfeit money circulating in the community.

Corporal Jennifer Cooper, the Prince George RCMP detachment’s media relations officer, released a statement on January 7th, saying the department saw a significant increase in counterfeit money reports last month. 

“Where we would typically see one to two reports of counterfeit bills each month in Prince George, since December 1st, we have received 17 reports, so that’s quite a spike in counterfeit bills going around the city,” states Cooper.

The RCMP says some of the counterfeit bills appear to be fake cash meant for use in a classroom setting, while others were photocopied bills printed on paper. 

Investigators are being led to believe this is the latest fraud attempt trend, and are reminding everyone that recirculating a counterfeit bill is an offence.

“It is predominantly $20 and $50 bills we are seeing used,” says Cooper.

People are advised that if they suspect any bills might be fake, they should politely refuse the bill and explain that it might be counterfeit, ask for a different bill, advise the person to check the note with the police and inform the local police of the possible counterfeit attempt. 

Constable Chad Neustaeter, media relations officer for the Fort St. John RCMP says the department has not seen an increase in counterfeit reports similar to Prince George with the last time being in August of last year.

“We had counterfeit cash handed out the 26th the 27th and the 28th [of August] but since then, I can’t say that we’ve had an uptick at all that I’m aware of,” says Neustaeter.

Neustaeter advises residents to get their bank notes inspected at a bank if they suspect any bills might be fake.

More information on how to spot counterfeit bills can be found here.