Toronto man accused of using fake $100 bills in East Gwillimbury

Police say criminals have produced fake 20's and 50's but more fake 100-dollar bills are now ending up in circulation. Pat Foran reports.

A Toronto man is accused of using counterfeit $100 bills to buy items at a plaza in East Gwillimbury last week.

York Regional Police were called to the area of Yonge Street and Green Lane on Jan. 15 for reports of a fraud.

Officers learned that a man attended multiple businesses and allegedly bought items with the fake bills.

The man was arrested shortly after, and police said officers found him to be in possession of seven counterfeit $100 bills, all with the same serial number: GKV9181892.

He has been identified as 20-year-old Dominic Coleman and charged with obstructing a peace officer, possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000, and five counts of uttering counterfeit money.

Police said they are investigating a similar incident in Richmond Hill that occurred on Jan. 6.

Police in the Greater Toronto Area and the Retail Council of Canada have been warning businesses about the significant increase in circulation of fake bills since November.

Trailers Ontario, a Mississauga company with four locations across the province, told CTV News this week that it was scammed out of $6,200 when someone bought a trailer with counterfeit money.

Police are advising businesses to exercise caution when accepting $100 bills and to check the serial number of each bill and inspect the window on the bill to ensure the tiny numbers in it match the denomination.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 7142 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).