Under the unassuming glow of a bank lobby in Bradford, what appeared to be three crisp $100 bills set a quiet drama in motion—one that now reverberates through Simcoe County’s shops, markets, and kitchen tables.
The South Simcoe police have issued a warning after a local resident unwittingly accepted counterfeit $100 bills during an ordinary Facebook Marketplace exchange with a woman from Toronto. The deception only unravelled at a Bradford bank, where vigilant staff declared the cash invalid, shifting the spotlight to a new breed of counterfeit currency now circulating in the region.
Unlike the garish forgeries of the past, these bills bear a troubling resemblance to real Canadian notes. Their paper is lighter, their colour just shy of authentic, and the transparent section—usually a mark of legitimacy—has been crudely imitated. On closer scrutiny, each suspect bill displayed the same serial number, a detail as subtle as it is damning. What fooled the casual eye stumbled over the rigour of a bank teller’s routine.
Police stress the importance of the “feel, look and flip” method for distinguishing genuine notes from frauds. Real currency should feel smooth but substantial, present holographic elements in the light, and reveal raised ink on the shoulders of the prominent number. Comparing unfamiliar notes with known authentic ones can draw out differences that matter most. In this case, the bills’ lack of tactile and visual security features betrayed them, even if a first glance did not.
The incident is a reminder that criminal ingenuity never rests. Experts recommend residents refuse dubious cash, request alternative payment, and notify authorities if counterfeits are suspected. As the police put it, vigilance is the community’s best defence.
The story of three phoney bills—each a nearly-perfect mimic—underscores a challenge: in Simcoe County’s daily commerce, the power to spot a fraud may fall to anyone, at any time. The next bill you receive might well ask, are you paying attention?
References:
High-quality counterfeit cash circulating in Simcoe County, police warn
