Over $12K in fake $50 bills used in Barrie marketplace jewelry scam

A male in early 20s used counterfeit $50s to pay for gold jewelry in a Facebook Marketplace transaction.

Barrie police are warning the public after a seller was duped with $12,600 in counterfeit cash during a Facebook Marketplace transaction.

On Tuesday evening, the victim reported arranging the sale of gold jewelry to a buyer they met online.

According to the police report, the two had chatted beforehand and met multiple times throughout the day to discuss and verify the items before finalizing the deal.

During the final meeting, the buyer agreed to buy the jewelry and paid in cash using multiple $50 bills. After the buyer left, police say the seller took a closer look and realized most of the bills were fake.

“Be mindful if someone is handing over the same denomination,” explains Detective Const. Kris Nicholson with the Barrie Police Service Fraud Unit. “Most people would have a mixture of $20, $50, and $100 bills for large transactions.”

Handling large cash payments

Police say sellers should take extra precautions when handling large cash payments. They recommend asking for proof of where the money came from, like asking for a bank withdrawal receipt.

“Your best bet is to always trust your gut. Don’t be afraid to offend the buyer by saying you want to inspect the cash and make sure it’s legit. Anyone who is a serious purchaser will respect your concerns and work with you,” adds DC Nicholson.

The suspect linked to this incident is described as a man in his late teens or early 20s, last seen wearing a green hoodie and black pants.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.