Montreal police say they have arrested four people, age 18 to 22, in connection with three investigations related to the distribution and use of counterfeit money.
In one case, police say they arrested an 18-year-old last month in the Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles borough who is alleged to have committed about 30 fraudulent transactions using counterfeit money.
Police say the suspect used fake $100 bills to buy items that had been advertised for sale on online classified sites, particularly smartphones and laptop computers. The bills all had the same serial number, police said.
In another case, an undercover officer learned of a social media account used to advertise the sale of counterfeit bills. Further investigation led to a search at the Ahuntsic-Cartierville home of a 20-year-old suspect in late February, police said in a release, adding he was arrested the same day.
Two 22-year-olds were arrested after an investigation into the distribution of counterfeit money. Police say a search in the St-Léonard borough led to the seizure of more than $16,000 in fake Canadian money and other evidence.
Montreal police say to verify whether a bill is legitimate, people can tilt it and the holographic images on both sides should change colour; the transparent band should be the same on both sides and match the denomination of the bill; if the transparent band peels off when scratched with a fingernail the bill is fake; and, on real bills, there is raised ink on the large number, the shoulders of the large portrait and the words “Banque du Canada ” et “ Bank of Canada .”
Police say if people receive multiple bills, they should check several of them, as fraudsters often mix fake bills with real ones. Police say people should also look at the serial numbers and if they are given multiple bills with the same number, they should refuse them.
Editor’s Picks
The post Montreal police arrest four in connection with use, distribution of counterfeit money appeared first on Montreal Gazette.
