Counterfeit currency on the rise in Halton, police say - CHCH
Halton police are warning residents and businesses about an increase in counterfeit currency circulating throughout the region.
www.chch.comHere’s the latest I can provide based on recent public reports:
- August 2025: South Simcoe police warned that high-quality counterfeit $100 bills were circulating in Simcoe County. The notes looked convincing at a glance but failed security checks upon closer inspection, with the same serial numbers found on multiple notes. Businesses and residents were advised to scrutinize cash carefully and use feel, look, flip to verify authenticity. This directly affected the Bradford and Bradford West Gwillimbury area during that period. [Source: CTV News article on Simcoe County counterfeit cash circulating in Simcoe County]
- March 2025: Canada Border Services Agency and RCMP announced seizures of counterfeit currency across the country, including polymer notes that required careful inspection of embedded security features. While not limited to Simcoe, this underscores ongoing nationwide counterfeiting risks. [Source: Government of Canada CBSA/RCMP announcement]
- October 2025–early 2026: Reports from Norfolk County and broader Ontario counties (including Halton) indicated increases in counterfeit currency activity, with notes being passed in everyday transactions and a push for vigilance among cash handlers. [Sources: Norfolk County OPP updates; Halton police press coverage]
What to do if you’re handling cash locally:
- Check for security features: feel the watermark, raised ink, and see the security strip or hologram. Counterfeit notes often feel slightly off and may have color-shift issues.
- Compare with genuine bills you know well, especially for higher-denomination notes (e.g., $50, $100).
- If you suspect a bill is fake, politely refuse, request another form of payment, and report the incident to local police.
Would you like me to summarize these incidents in a quick, shareable alert for your neighborhood or for a business you run in Los Angeles to raise awareness about counterfeit cash risks? If you want, I can tailor a short email or social post with practical tips. I can also look for more recent local updates specific to Simcoe County if you’d like.