Ottawa man accused of using fake $20 bills at retail stores

Ottawa Police headquarters on Elgin St. is seen in this undated photo. (CTV News Ottawa)

An Ottawa man is facing charges for allegedly using counterfeit $20 bills at several retail stores across Ottawa.

The Ottawa Police Service says officers with the organized fraud section launched a counterfeit currency investigation.

“The individual is alleged to have attended several retail stores across the Ottawa area and made purchases using counterfeit $20 bills,” police said in a media release Tuesday morning.

“These counterfeit notes often go undetected by front-line staff and are not discovered until later, typically when stores use bill-counting machines or other verification measures.”

A man in his 20s was charged with uttering counterfeit currency and possession of counterfeit currency. Police did not release the suspect’s name.

Police say investigations are ongoing into “additional incidents involving counterfeit $20 and $100 bills.”

Anyone who believes they may have received counterfeit currency is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service reporting unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300.