Counterfeit cash puts local town’s police, businesses on alert

Counterfeit cash puts local towns police businesses on alert

Police in Aylmer are warning residents and businesses to be cautious after reports of counterfeit cash being used for payment in parts of town.

Aylmer police have received two reports of people using fake $20 bills and believe there are more circulating in town, police Chief Zvonko Horvat said Tuesday.

“There are more floating around. It’s just we haven’t received any further complaints,” he said.

Police started investigating after receiving a complaint about a woman tendering fake $20 Canadian bills for payment. Officers then issued the warning after another person reported receiving a counterfeit bill at a local business.

In both instances, police said, the bills have the same serial number: DB66688803. The difference in the transparent strip where the Queen’s picture is located and the missing letter “a” at the end of Canada also indicates the bank note is fake, police said.

The suspect involved in the first incident is a woman, Horvat said, adding police are reviewing video surveillance to obtain more information on the suspect behind the second complaint.

Residents and retail workers are being urged to inspect their currency. The material, serial numbers and markings on the bill can be indicators of counterfeit currency.

“Any time someone tenders a $20 bill, take a good look at it to see if it’s authentic,” Horvat said.

Any bank note suspected to be counterfeit should be reported to police, he added.

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