The Ridge Meadows Chamber of Commerce is advising businesses in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows to take extra care when handling cash after police in several B.C. communities reported an increase in high quality counterfeit Canadian bank notes.
A recent CityNews Vancouver report highlighted that the North Vancouver RCMP has received multiple complaints involving realistic counterfeit 50- and 100-dollar bills over the past two months. Police note that the bills are made from plastic like genuine currency and include holographic stickers that mimic security features. All seized bills share the same serial number, and officers warn that the reflective strip on the right side of the bill can be peeled off, which is a clear sign the note is not authentic.
Similar incidents have been reported in Nanaimo and New Westminster. Police emphasize that anyone who unknowingly accepts counterfeit cash will not be reimbursed, which creates a direct financial loss for businesses.
Prevention Tips for Local Retailers
The Chamber encourages all businesses to review the Bank of Canada’s guidelines on detecting counterfeit currency. Key steps include:

• Inspecting the transparent window and ensuring it cannot be removed.
• Checking the raised ink on the large number and the word Canada.
• Looking closely at holographic features to confirm they match genuine notes.
• Comparing suspicious bills to a known authentic bill whenever possible.