RCMP Warning: Counterfeit $50 and $100 Bills in Bay St. George
The Bay St. George RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador are warning residents and business owners after a number of counterfeit Canadian banknotes were recently detected in the community. Reports from both local residents and commercial locations indicate that fake bills have already been used to complete transactions.
The suspect notes are primarily $50 and $100 denominations. Police have observed repeated serial numbers on multiple bills and unusual security features, including a metallic or reflective portrait area that appears as a removable sticker. The public is urged to inspect cash carefully and contact police if they believe they are handling counterfeit money.
Official Details from Bay St. George RCMP
According to the official information from Bay St. George RCMP, officers have recently collected several counterfeit notes circulating in the area. These fake bills have already been passed at local businesses, meaning more may still be in active circulation within the community, including around communities such as St. George’s, Newfoundland and Labrador crime and safety data, where commercial activity also relies heavily on cash transactions.
Key details provided by police include:
- The counterfeit currency identified so far consists mainly of $50 and $100 Canadian banknotes.
- Several of the seized notes shared the same serial numbers, indicating a batch of duplicated bills.
- The usual metallic or reflective portrait element on the bill was replaced with a sticker that could be peeled off the surface of the counterfeit notes.
- These counterfeit notes have already been used to make purchases at local businesses within the community.
The RCMP emphasize the following actions for the public and retailers:
- If you believe you are in possession of counterfeit currency, contact your local police immediately.
- Retailers have the legal right to refuse payment when they reasonably suspect that a bill is counterfeit.
- It is a criminal offence in Canada to produce, possess, or re-circulate counterfeit banknotes.
- If you encounter what you believe to be a fake bill, do not attempt to pass it on; instead, report it to police and follow their instructions.
- For official guidance on how to recognize genuine banknotes and prevent fraud, the RCMP direct the public to the Bank of Canada’s resources: Bank of Canada counterfeit prevention information.
How to Report Information or Suspected Counterfeit Bills
The CrimeCanada.ca community can assist law enforcement by staying alert to suspicious bills and promptly sharing information. If you have details about counterfeit currency circulating in the Bay St. George area, or if you have accepted or seen a bill you suspect is fake, please contact:
- Bay St. George RCMP: 709-643-2118
- Crime Stoppers (anonymous tips):
- Phone: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
- Online: www.nlcrimestoppers.com
- Via mobile: P3Tips app
Community members should never put themselves at risk to confront someone using suspected counterfeit currency. Instead, note as many details as safely possible (time, place, description, and any vehicle information) and provide that information to police or Crime Stoppers.
CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective
From the perspective of CrimeCanada.ca, counterfeit currency incidents like this one in Newfoundland and Labrador have a direct impact on local businesses, front-line workers, and residents who may unknowingly accept fake bills and suffer the financial loss. Tracking and understanding patterns of financial crime across Canadian communities, from smaller regions like Bay St. George to other communities highlighted in our crime statistics and safety data for St. George’s, helps build a clearer picture of local risk. We encourage everyone to learn the security features of Canadian banknotes, slow down during cash transactions, and report suspicious bills or behaviour immediately. Prompt community reporting allows police to remove counterfeit notes from circulation faster and reduces the chance that honest residents or small businesses are left absorbing the loss.
Official Source & Community Safety
This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the newfoundland-and-labrador community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.
Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.