Mounties in B.C. investigating ‘prop money’ circulating in community

A real $100 bill (top) is shown in comparison with the fake currency (bottom). (Handout)

Mounties on Vancouver Island are warning residents and business owners about fake currency that has been circulating in the region.

Police were called to a business in Sidney, north of Victoria, after a counterfeit $100 bill was used in a transaction on Aug. 21, according to a statement Friday from the local RCMP detachment.

While the bill looked real enough, the phrase “prop mney” was written in small type on the bill’s holographic section, according to photos shared by the Sidney/North Saanich RCMP.

“Initial investigative steps by frontline members showed that the counterfeit bill was ‘prop money’ and could be purchased online and in different denominations,” the statement said.

“Police are advising all businesses and individuals accepting cash payments to carefully inspect all bills for authenticity.”

Investigators are urging anyone who comes into contact with counterfeit money to report it to local police.