Red Deer RCMP are warning residents and businesses that counterfeit Canadian bills are circulating in Red Deer and surrounding areas. Police issued the alert on September 8, 2026, following multiple reports over the previous two weeks of people using fake $50 and $100 notes for purchases.
RCMP say the counterfeit bills have been passed or attempted to be passed at local businesses, and they are urging everyone who handles cash to be extra careful. The Bank of Canada recommends using the “touch and tilt” method to spot fakes: feel for raised ink on the large number and the words “Bank of Canada,” then tilt the note to see the color-shifting holographic features in the transparent window.
Passing counterfeit money is a serious offence under Canada’s Criminal Code. Anyone caught using fake bills as if they were real could face up to 14 years in prison. RCMP are asking anyone who suspects they have received counterfeit currency to contact Red Deer RCMP or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
This local warning reflects a wider national trend. According to RCMP data, counterfeit currency seizures in Canada tripled from about 47,000 bills in 2024 to more than 143,000 in 2025. Similar warnings have been issued by RCMP detachments in other Canadian cities this year, including North Vancouver, B.C., and St. Thomas, Ontario.
While Red Deer’s overall Crime Severity Index fell to 114.4 in 2025 — a decrease of about 3.4 percent from the previous year — property and financial crimes like counterfeiting remain a concern for local shops and residents who rely on cash transactions. RCMP advise checking all bills, not just large ones, because counterfeiters can target any denomination. For more information on spotting fake money, visit the Bank of Canada’s counterfeit prevention page.
