Police seek 2 people who allegedly passed counterfeit bills in B.C.’s Interior this week

Police shared these surveillance images of the two people they say used counterfeit bills in Trail, B.C., this week. (Trail and Greater District RCMP)

Police in B.C.’s southern Interior are looking for two people they say passed counterfeit Canadian bills earlier this week.

The first incident was reported on Monday by a business in the 1500 block of Second Avenue in Trail, B.C., according to a news release issued Friday by the local RCMP detachment.

A white man with brown hair, a beard and a moustache had used a $50 counterfeit bill to purchase items the day before, staff told responding officers.

Surveillance video captured the transaction and Trail and Greater District RCMP shared a still image of the man—who was wearing a camouflage coat and carrying a green, reusable shopping bag—in their release.

On Tuesday, the detachment received another report of a counterfeit bill being passed, again at a business in the 1500 block of Second Avenue. Police did not specify whether the same business was involved in both transactions.

Both counterfeit bills bore the same serial number: AHU5885903, police said.

The person who passed the second bill did so shortly after 7 p.m. Monday night, according to police.

They described her as a white woman in her 20s with long blond hair, and said she was wearing a blue jacket, green shirt, camouflage pants and white shoes, and carrying a rain jacket.

Mounties shared a still image from surveillance video of her as well. They did not share an image of the counterfeit bills.

“These counterfeits are sophisticated and could easily pass for legitimate currency,” said Sgt. Mike Wicentowich, the detachment commander, in the release.

“We continue to encourage businesses to check for security features on high-value denominations like $50 and $100 to ensure they are authentic before accepting them as payment.”

More information on how to authenticate Canadian cash and avoid accepting counterfeit bills can be found on the Bank of Canada website, police said.

They asked anyone who recognizes either of the people shown in the surveillance images to call the detachment at 250-364-2566 to speak to an investigator.