Bogus bills making rounds in capital
Fredericton Police Force investigates numerous reports of counterfeit U.S. currency circulating in city in recent weeks, advises area retailers to be on alert for funny money
Counterfeit American bills are being used at Fredericton-area stores, the city police force advised Friday, and it offered tips to retailers on how they can detect the bogus bills.
The Fredericton Police Force said in a news release Friday it “has received multiple reports of counterfeit U.S. currency in recent weeks.”
As a result, it shared a list of methods retail staff can check to see if U.S. bills received might be fake.
The police force suggested the following:
Hold the bill up to the light. For all bills except $1 and $2 dollar bills, there should be a security thread (plastic strip) running from top to bottom.
Use an ultraviolet (black) light to look at security threads. Plastic strips in denominations $5 and above should glow a specific colour.
Tilt the bill to examine the colour-shifting ink in the lower right-hand corner, a security feature introduced in 1996 on higher denomination bills.
Check the watermark. Hold the note to light to see a faint image to the right of the portrait on denominations $5 and higher.
Police urged anyone who’s received such counterfeit bills or who suspect they have to contact the force by calling 506-460-2300 or emailing john.kipping@fredericton.ca.
Those wishing to provide information anonymously can so through by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Those reporting information can cite police file #24-2389.
The Fredericton Independent can be reached at ftonindependent@gmail.com.