‘Prop money’ used to buy cellphone in Guelph

Prop money used to purchase cellphones from an online marketplace. (Source: Guelph Police)

Guelph Police are investigating yet another fraud involving fake cash.

Police said a Guelph resident posted an iPhone 16 for sale online and was contacted by an interested “buyer.”

At a meetup on Thursday, they handed over nine $100 bills which turned out to be fake.

“When the seller attempted to deposit them days later they were rejected, and he realized the bills contained the words ‘prop money’ within the hologram area,” a media release said.

The “buyer” was described as a Black man who drove a four-door sedan.

According to police, four similar incidents have been reported in the last four months.

In December, fake bills were used to buy a iPhone 15. The same trick was used a few weeks later at a buy-and-sell meetup for a iPhone 16 Pro.

Another incident was reported earlier this month. The victim told police they were given $1,800 in counterfeit cash for a set of Dewalt cordless tools.

Police have not yet determined if any of these frauds are related.

They shared the following safety tips for online sellers and buyers:

• Do not meet in a secluded place or invite strangers to your home. Suggest a meetup during the day at a public location, ideally with video surveillance. The Guelph Police Service offers a Buy & Sell Zone outside the station on Fountain Street East.
• Have someone come with you to the meetup. If you can’t have someone come with you, let friends or family know where the meeting is taking place and any details about the buyer or seller.
• Take screenshots of the advertisements and any contact information provided by the other party.
• If you are the buyer, do not disclose to the seller how you will be paying if it’s not necessary. If the seller is aware you are attending with cash it creates an opportunity for a robbery to take place.
• Take note of any vehicles or people associated to the transaction as it is certainly possible that the name they are using online could be false.