2 teens accused of using fake money to buy cellphone from at least 15 online sellers

A Durham Regional Police patch is shown in Bowmanville, Ont. on Tuesday Feb. 28, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Doug Ives

Two teenagers are facing charges after they allegedly bought phones sold on online marketplaces from at least 15 people using counterfeit money.

Durham Regional Police said the multiple sales occurred between January and April with the suspects, a 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl, allegedly using fake accounts on Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji.

The two arranged to meet the sellers at different locations across Oshawa, during which they paid for the cellphones with counterfeit money, police allege.

In a news release on Thursday, investigators revealed that the cellphones obtained by the suspects were worth a total of $6,800.

The girl was arrested on June 21 while the boy was taken into custody on July 5, police said.

They have been charged with a combined 20 offences, including fraud under $5,000, and uttering counterfeit currency.