Grande Prairie RCMP wants to alert the public to an increase in use of counterfeit money in the Grande Prairie area.

Since May 2022, multiple local businesses have reported counterfeit money being used in the City and County of Grande Prairie.  The reported denominations of counterfeit money being passed are 20, 50 and 100 dollar bills, with the majority being 100 dollar bills.

Here are some tips for dealing with potential counterfeit money:

·Know the security features to look for on the currency you are handling.

·Limit accepting certain denominations of money.

·If you think it is counterfeit, politely refuse it. Explain that you suspect it could be counterfeit.

·Inform your local police of a possible attempt to pass suspected counterfeit money.

·Be courteous. Remember that the individual in possession of the currency could be an innocent victim who does not realize the note is suspicious.

Counterfeiting has a large scale impact on our communities, and the Grande Prairie RCMP is committed to enforcing these laws and stopping those responsible for these crimes.

For more information on Counterfeit money prevention, please visit https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/counterfeit-prevention/

If you have information regarding counterfeit money or any other illegal activity, please call the Grande Prairie RCMP at 780-830-5701 or your local police. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com ( http://www.p3tips.com/ ) or by using the "P3 Tips" app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

Information provided by the Grande Prairie RCMP