Iqaluit police on the lookout for phony $10, $20 bills

Following reports of counterfeit currency being circulated in Iqaluit, the RCMP have warned residents and businesses to run a few checks on their $10 and $20 bills. (IMAGE COURTESY OF BANK OF CANADA)

Iqaluit police are warning local businesses and customers to watch for counterfeit bills reported to be circulating in Nunavut’s capital.

Iqaluit RCMP says that, since May 27, police have received three reports of counterfeit currency used during transactions at local businesses.

Police have seized a number of counterfeit $10 and $20 bills over the last week, RCMP said in a June 2 release.

You can spot the fakes by running a few checks on your $10 and $20 bills:

• Tilt the note. The numbers and maple leaves on the metallic stripe should change colour;

• On the front of the bill, feel for the raised ink on: the large number 20, the words “Bank of Canada,” and the shoulders of the Queen’s portrait. The counterfeit bills do not have raised ink;

• Hold the note up to the light and look through it. The dashes should form a solid line, on both sides of the note. The dashes also shift from gold to green when tilting the note. Small characters match the note value;

• Hold the note up to the light to see through it. A small ghost-like image of the portrait should appear in a blank space, visible from both sides of the note. You won’t see the image in counterfeit bills;

• Hold the note up to the light to see through it. Irregular marks on the front and back of the note should form a complete number, visible from both sides.

Police are asking any Nunavummiut who come across counterfeit money to record the details about the transaction in which they were given the bill, and contact their local RCMP detachment (in Iqaluit) at (867) 979-0123 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS.)

It’s not the first time that counterfeit money has circulated in Iqaluit. In 2011, police nabbed counterfeit money, $50 and $100 bills, in Iqaluit and also arrested a man found with a money-making device in his home. He man was subsequently arrested and faced charges of possessing counterfeit money under Sect. 450 of the Criminal Code.