If you’ve unknowingly received a counterfeit $20, $50, or $100 bill, don’t expect a refund — but do know what to do next. As counterfeit currency quietly spreads across Ontario and beyond, law enforcement and the Bank of Canada are urging the public to stay alert.
In recent weeks, Durham Regional Police have investigated several cases involving fake money. In Ajax, a man fled a Best Buy after trying to use $240 worth of counterfeit $20s that had identical serial numbers and a suspicious texture. A similar incident occurred at a Shell station in Scugog, where a suspect made two separate purchases with fake $20 bills, walking away with real change.
Across Canada, counterfeit currency seizures are rising sharply. According to the RCMP, 46,988 fake notes were confiscated in 2024 — up from 39,244 the year before. Even more alarming, over 22,000 fake bills were successfully passed into circulation, with $100 notes being the most counterfeited.
In a March bust, the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency seized more than $100,000 in fake Canadian currency, plus holographic stickers mimicking legitimate polymer security features. The fake money, shipped from China to Nova Scotia, was part of a broader counterfeit operation involving weapons and digital equipment.
So what should you do if you’re handed a fake bill?
According to the RCMP, if you knowingly use counterfeit money, it’s a criminal offence. But if you unknowingly accept a fake note, you cannot be reimbursed — you’re unfortunately out of pocket. Cpl. Mitch Thompson with the RCMP’s commercial crime section confirmed, “You’re on the hook for the loss.”
That’s why it’s crucial to examine cash before accepting it. The Bank of Canada outlines four simple steps to help spot fake notes:
- Inspect the transparent window – Does the portrait and number match the denomination?
- Tilt the note – Are there colour-shifting features in the window?
- Feel the raised ink – The main portrait and large numbers should feel textured.
- Look through the maple leaf window – Do you see tiny numbers using a bright light?
If anything seems off, don’t try to spend the bill. Instead, take it to your local police department. If it’s genuine, you’ll get it back. If it’s not, you’ve helped stop counterfeiters from hurting others.
Businesses are also encouraged to train staff on currency security features. Counterfeiters are known to replicate the clear polymer windows with low-grade materials that can be bonded poorly — often detectable by a change in texture between clear and opaque areas of the bill.
With warmer months bringing increased retail and tourism traffic, police expect counterfeit currency attempts to spike. In 2024 alone, counterfeit $100 bills led the list, followed by $50, $5, and $20 notes. Even a few fake $1,000 bills — withdrawn from circulation over two decades ago — were found in the wild.
To track counterfeiting trends and learn how to identify suspicious bills, visit the Bank of Canada’s website or the RCMP’s commercial crime section.
And if a cashier hesitates while inspecting your cash, don’t take it personally — they might just be stopping a fake in its tracks.