N.S. RCMP looking for 3 people in connection to counterfeit $50 bills in province

The RCMP warn Canadians to watch out for counterfeit money, as fake bills circulate around the country.

The Nova Scotia RCMP has released photos of three people in connection with an ongoing investigation into counterfeit $50 bank notes circulating in the province.

Earlier this week police said they received at least eight separate reports of “high-quality counterfeit $50 bank notes” in East Hants, West Hants, Kings, Colchester and Luneburg counties in the last month.

“These notes, which all have identical serial numbers, are made from a similar plastic to that used by genuine currency, and include a holographic sticker meant to imitate genuine embedded security measures,” a previous news release reads. “The holographic stripe on the one side can be peeled off.”

East Hants District RCMP says it is looking for a person of interest described as a man in his twenties with brown/black hair. He was seen wearing glasses, black boots, black skinny jeans with holes, a black hoodie and a black bomber-style jacket with a hood.

They are also looking for a dark-coloured sedan.

The Lunenburg District RCMP says it’s looking for a man with brown/black hair and dark-coloured facial hair. He was seen wearing a black baseball cap, a brown/tan hoodie, black pants and black boots.

The man was believed to be driving a white 2007 Toyota Tacoma.

The West Hants District RCMP is looking for a man in his twenties with dark brown or black wavy hair and a moustache. He was seen wearing a black (possibly puffy) jacket, a black hoodie, black pants and black boots.

The man is believed to have been a passenger in a black Honda Civic.

Anyone who can identify these people is asked to call the RCMP at 1-800-803-7267, or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca.

On Wednesday the Saint John Police Force also reported counterfeit $20, $50 and $100 bills circulating in the city.

Patrick Sullivan, president of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, recommends people be vigilant with cash transactions.

“Cash is still used for a lot of smaller transactions,” Sullivan said. “They need to kind of keep an eye on the bills. I wouldn’t recommend people turn away cash, but I think if you’re careful, you’re probably not going to have any problems.”

With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Vanessa Wright

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