Counterfeit $100 U.S. currency discovered in Brandon

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release

On May 20, 2019, Brandon Police Service was made aware of a counterfeit U.S. $100 bill that was successfully cashed. The fake was caught by a local bank and reported to police.

On June 3, 2019 a second counterfeit U.S. $100 bill was passed at a local business which resembled the original fake passed in May.

Media outlets in the U.S. have reported multiple stories on these counterfeit bills over the last several years. The bills have come in most U.S. currency denominations, and all bear similar, pink, Chinese lettering.

The two $100 U.S. counterfeits which have turned up here in Brandon share this lettering, which should be a give-away that the bill is counterfeit. In recent months’ similar counterfeit $100 U.S. bills have been turning up across Canada.

The texture of the counterfeits is not consistent with U.S. currency which is made out of cotton. U.S. Currency has a similar feel to the currency that Canada phased out in recent years since creating the polymer note. The counterfeit currency feels similar to plain paper. The U.S. counterfeits also lack all the security features on U.S currency such as the security thread, colour shifting ink, watermark, and raised ink.

There are information videos made by the Bank of Canada regarding Canada’s currency security features. These videos can be found on the Bank of Canada YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/user/bankofcanadaofficial.

If you accept a counterfeit bill, you will not receive compensation for the monetary loss.  Businesses are reminded that they are under no obligation to accept foreign currency when it is presented.

If you find yourself in possession of a counterfeit bill, contact Brandon Police Service.