Two people have been charged in relation to American counterfeit currency allegedly being used in Halton. Halton Police charged a Milton woman after they say a suspect attempted to exchange a counterfeit American $50 bill for Canadian currency at a Royal Bank in Georgetown. The incident took place Dec. 3. A bank employee examined the bank note and determined it was counterfeit and seized it. Investigators identified a suspect who subsequently turned herself in to police.
Elaine Smith, 57, was charged with Possession of Counterfeit Money and Uttering Counterfeit Money on January 12.
In a separate incident that took place at the Great Canadian Super Store in Milton on December 22, police say counterfeit money was used to purchase two PlayStation consoles.
Thirty minutes after the first purchase, police allege the same suspect returned to the store and purchased two more PlayStation consoles with counterfeit American bills.
Investigators identified a suspect and say he turned himself into police on January 13.
Kevon Henry, 28, of Toronto has been charged with two counts of Possession of Counterfeit Money, two counts of Uttering Counterfeit Money and two counts of Proceeds of Crime.
Counterfeit American currency making way around Halton: police
Watch out for those bogus bucks from south of the border.
That’s the message Halton police are giving to local business owners, as a rise in the number of counterfeit American $50 and $20 dollar bills has been seen throughout Halton.
Businesses are being urged not to accept US currency while a high number of counterfeit cash is in circulation.
Business owners who feel the need to keep taking these bills are asked to be highly vigilant when checking for authenticity.
Things to look for when examining American bills include:
• No two bills will ever have the same serial number. If you see a recurring serial number in the money you have received it is a strong indicator that the money is counterfeit.
• Receiving bills with serial numbers in sequential order. This does not mean beyond a doubt that the money you have received is counterfeit but it would be a strong indicator to look more closely at the bills.
• Ink will run when the bill is wet. If a few drops of water are placed on the bill and the ink runs the bill is counterfeit. Ink on an authentic American bill would not run.
• Texture of the bill. American currency is made up of 25% linen and 75% cotton. The bills then have small randomly disbursed red and blue security fibers embedded throughout the paper.
• Borders and cut of an American bill. The borders of the bill will be even all the way around the bill. If the bill images are off center or the on an angle that is a strong indicator that the bill is counterfeit.
Anyone who receives counterfeit currency or suspects that someone is attempting to pass counterfeit money is asked to contact Halton Regional Police immediately at 905-878-5511.
Anyone with information on this or any other crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
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