Counterfeit money used in Barrie

Police say a counterfeit $100 bill was used at a business in Barrie, Ont., on Jan. 17, 2025. (Barrie Police Services)

Police in Barrie are investigating two instances involving counterfeit money being used at local businesses.

The police service says a fake $50 and $100 bill were used by the same person at an Essa Road pharmacy and a Park Place retailer on the evening of January 17.

"Police Services throughout Southern and Central Ontario have seen similar occurrences involving the same bills that date back to late last year," police stated. "With changes to Canadian currency and the use of polymer in the bank note manufacturing process, seizures of counterfeit money in Barrie is not something that occurs regularly."

Police ask business owners and residents to be proactive before accepting $50 and $100 bills by doing a look and feel test on them.

Police say these counterfeit bills don’t have the appearance they should.

“The clear polymer window on the right frontside of the $50 bill contains and image of Sir Robert Borden, Canada’s eighth Prime Minister (whose image appears in the centre and window of the $100 bill), not William Lyon Mackenzie King whose picture is actually depicted in the centre of the $50 bill."

The service also noted that there should be several 50s just above one of the Centre Block Towers of Parliament image, instead, the bill has 100s “and appears to be fabricated on a tape that has been affixed to the involved bills.”

Anyone who encounters counterfeit bills should report it to the authorities.