NEWS RELEASE
SAULT STE. MARIE POLICE SERVICE
*************************
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service wants to advise the public of an increase in counterfeit bills and fraudulent activity online.
Recently officers have received a number of complaints of counterfeit Canadian $50 bills that have been used in the city.
The bills have been constructed using a forged $50 portion of the bill and the transparent hologram portion from a Canadian $5 bill. The hologram portion has been taped to the fake $50 bill and is noticeable if you look closely.
We encourage everyone to inspect all bills thoroughly before accepting them, whether in a traditional retail setting or when completing any kind of in person transaction.
Officers with the Service’s Fraud Unit have also received a number of complaints from people looking for part time work online. The complainants say they apply for work and then receive a cheque in their name. They are instructed to deposit the cheque, keep a portion of the money and send the rest to someone via Western Union or through bit coin. Later, the complainants have then been contacted by their financial institution notifying them the cheques were fraudulent.
The service urges people to not cash cheques they receive in the mail from unknown individuals or businesses. When receiving a cheque compensating you for work you will not be told to send a portion of the funds to another party.
Anyone with information about the counterfeit Canadian $50 bills circulating in the city or the fraudulent cheques is asked to please contact the Sault Ste. Marie Police Services Fraud Unit.
*************************