Fake $100 bills used at Portage la Prairie businesses
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Mounties in southern Manitoba are warning business owners and the public to be on high alert after a series of counterfeit $100 bills were used at local establishments.
The Portage la Prairie RCMP said the first incident occurred Dec. 17 at a restaurant. This was followed by a second report on Jan. 5, where two more $100 bills, believed to be fake, were used at a local business.
Sgt. Paul Manaigre, a media relations officer with the Manitoba RCMP, said the recent activity in Portage follows similar reports from the nearby community of Neepawa.
“It does seem kind of suspicious that Neepawa has recently had some there and now we’ve got a couple showing up in Portage,” Manaigre said. “Somebody is trying to move these around southern Manitoba and hoping that they can get away with it.”
Investigators are looking into whether the incidents are part of a larger effort to launder sophisticated counterfeit currency across the region. While police officers receive training to spot fakes, Manaigre noted that suspected bills are often sent to the Bank of Canada for expert forensic analysis.
“They’ll examine the techniques used, the technology, and see if it matches something else that was seized,” he said. “With the technology out there getting better and better, we’re starting to see more and more sophisticated products.”
Despite the rising quality of forgeries, police say the “texture” of the bill is often the first red flag for staff. Other warning signs include blurry printing, missing security threads, or unusual colours. Manaigre also advised people to check serial numbers, noting that if multiple bills are in sequential order, “the odds of that are pretty astronomical” in daily circulation.
While digital payments have become the norm, Manaigre cautioned that the relative rarity of cash can actually make people less likely to suspect an issue when they do handle it.
“Go with your gut feeling,” he said. “If it’s not feeling right, you most likely have the opportunity to compare it to another banknote.”
Anyone who suspects they have received counterfeit money is asked to contact the Portage la Prairie RCMP or their local police service.
» Portage Graphic Leader