BE ON THE ALERT for counterfeit $100 bills (above) being circulated in the pre-Christmas shopping rush. Police photo.
Police are warning busy merchants to be on the lookout for counterfeit $100 bills as shopping activity picks up for the Christmas holidays.
An investigation, dubbed Project OCedarwood, by the RCMP has led to warrants being issued for the arrests of three people for a list of counterfeit money charges, including the seizure of a number of the fake bills
The probe began in June 2022 when police obtained information from Home Depot that its Loss Prevention Department had identified a group who were purchasing goods at various retailers with suspected counterfeit money and then returned the products at other locations to obtain full refunds.
THREE SUSPECTS are sought by the RCMP for possessing and circulating the fake bills to many large box stores. Police photo.
“The accused purchased store merchandise with counterfeit bills,” the RCMP said in a release. “The accused would return the merchandise at a separate retail location to obtain a full refund on the initial purchase.”
The RCMP allege the counterfeit bills were circulated at a number of large box store retailers in the Toronto area, along the Highway 401 corridor between Belleville and London, and North to Barrie and South to Hamilton.
“Although the counterfeit $100 bills were quite sophisticated in an attempt to replicate current bank note security features, these counterfeit bills can be distinguished from a genuine due to various print defects,” police said.
Manuel Parreira, a Bank of Canada Regional Director, said the financial loss from a counterfeit note can be significant for individuals and businesses alike.
“The number of counterfeits in circulation in Canada remains low with bank note security features continuing to demonstrate they are reliable, quick and easy to use,” Parreira said. “Knowing the security features on a bank note allows you to detect a counterfeit at a glance and protect yourself from fraud.”
MERCHANTS ARE asked to call police or not accept a suspicious bill if in doubt.
Warrants have been issued for Raj Kirubananthan, 31, of Markham, Jessica Mitchell, 38, of Belleville, and Bleu Lawrence, 28, of Burlington. They are sought by police for five counts each relating to uttering and possession of counterfeit money.
If you have any information in relation to counterfeit money, suspect that you are in possession of counterfeit money, or believe someone has attempted to pass along counterfeit money to you, please contact your local police, the Ontario RCMP at 1-800-387-0020 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), at any time.