OPP warn of counterfeit 'Z dollard' toonies surfacing in eastern Ontario
Ontario Provincial Police are warning businesses of some counterfeit toonies that were found at a store in Hawkesbury.
Officers were called to the store on Regent Street at around 11 a.m. Tuesday because someone had used counterfeit coins to buy things.
A photo shared by police shows the coins have the same coloration as real toonies, but a cursory glance reveals they're anything but. They have a walrus on one side instead of a polar bear, and are stamped as being worth "Z DOLLARD". The image purporting to be of Queen Elizabeth II is also incorrect. The coins are also dated 1990, when the first real toonies weren't in circulation until 1996.
The OPP would like everyone to be aware of this and to be vigilant in assuring they do not fall victim to this fraud.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE GIVEN COUNTERFEIT CASH
The Bank of Canada has tips on what to do if you suspect you've been given a counterfeit.
During a transaction
If you suspect that you’re being offered a counterfeit note, assess the situation to ensure that you are not at risk. Then, do the following:
- Politely refuse the note and explain that you suspect that it may be counterfeit.
- Ask for another note (and check it too).
- Advise the person to check the note with the local police.
- Inform your local police of a possible attempt to pass suspected counterfeit money.
- Be courteous. Remember that the person in possession of the bill could be an innocent victim who does not realize that the note is suspicious.
After a transaction
If you suspect that you’ve received a counterfeit note, give it to the local police.
- If it’s real, you’ll get it back.
- Either way, the police should be informed of possible counterfeiting activity in your community. Timely reporting helps police and prosecutors bring counterfeiters to justice.
The Royal Canadian Mint says any investigation into counterfeit currency must be initiated by the police.
"If you suspect you have a counterfeit coin in your possession, you should report it to your local police. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have Regional Counterfeit Coordinators stationed across the country to assist the investigating agency."
OPP say anyone with information can call 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222- 8477 (TIPS).
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
What Michael Cohen said on the stand in Trump hush money case
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial took the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
Behind the barricades: How protesters spend their first days in a new encampment
Students in Montreal describe life in a newly erected encampment in Montreal as a whirlwind of preparations, from facing rain and a potential police crackdown to setting up a space for the exchange of ideas.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Next 48 hours will be 'extremely challenging' for B.C. wildfire crews near Fort Nelson: officials
A wildfire burning dangerously close to Fort Nelson, B.C., has grown to more than 50 square kilometres, and officials are warning that the blaze's behaviour is expected to become more volatile over the next 48 hours.
Southern Ont. man charged with attempted murder in Timmins shooting
One of two men wanted for attempted murder in Timmins has been arrested, while a warrant has been issued for a second suspect, who fled police on foot.