SASKATOON — Police have arrested two people following an investigation into counterfeit money circulating in both retail stores and private sales.
Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) say their Economic Crime Section started receiving reports in late 2025 of fake bills being used to buy merchandise in peer-to-peer transactions and at local businesses. Through their investigation, police identified a 33-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman as suspects.
On Jan. 13, both were arrested at a business in the 2800 block of Idylwyld Drive North where police say they attempted to purchase about $1,200 worth of tools using counterfeit currency.
With assistance from the RCMP, officers later executed a search warrant at a home in Rosthern. Police say they seized several thousand dollars’ worth of tools believed to have been purchased with counterfeit bills, along with materials and equipment used to produce the currency.
Both of the accused have been charged with uttering counterfeit currency, possession of property obtained by crime, and possession of materials for counterfeiting currency. The man was additionally charged with possession of counterfeit currency and two counts of failure to comply with court-imposed conditions.
Businesses and individuals are encouraged to inspect bills thoroughly when accepting cash to complete a transaction. Modern Canadian bills, known as the Frontiers series, are made from a single piece of polymer material.
Additional security features to watch for include:
– A colourized holographic portrait and building in the large transparent window that changes colour when tilted (flip it over to see the same from the back);
– A transparent outline on the frosted maple leaf window;
– Maple leaves that border and cross into the large transparent window;
– Raised ink on the large number and the words “Banque du Canada” and “Bank of Canada”; and
– Each bill should have its own unique serial number so compare serial numbers.
Police remind people that SPS has the Buy and Sell Exchange Zone parking stalls located in the west visitor parking lot of the SPS Headquarters where safe property transactions can be conducted. These stalls are marked with green paint and signs.
If you believe you’ve been the victim of a counterfeit currency transaction, contact your local police. To report such incidents to the Saskatoon Police Service, call 306-975-8300. To learn more about the security features of modern Canadian bills, visit the Bank of Canada website
