A 20-year-old man from Toronto has been arrested after allegedly using fake $100 bills at several retail stores in Oshawa, Ontario and nearby communities. The investigation began in early February after police received reports of counterfeit cash being used to buy items that were later returned for real money.
The Durham Regional Police Service arrested Dominic Coleman on March 13, 2026, following a month-long investigation. Officers say that on February 7, 2026, the suspect used fake Bank of Canada $100 bills at stores in Oshawa, Whitby, and Ajax before returning the merchandise for cash refunds at different locations in Toronto.
Coleman is now facing four counts each of fraud under $5,000, using counterfeit money, and failing to follow a court order. Investigators are concerned that more businesses may have been targeted by this scheme and are asking any other local shop owners who encountered similar incidents to contact the police.
In a separate case, police are also searching for a woman who allegedly used four fake $100 bills at a Walmart in Bowmanville on December 14, 2025. She is also accused of using counterfeit bills at a Walmart in Oshawa the following day before returning the items for legitimate cash at a location in Ajax. She is described as a Black woman between 25 and 35 years old with a slim build, last seen wearing a beige New York Yankees toque and a grey puffer vest.
These local incidents follow a significant rise in fake currency across the country. National statistics show that the number of counterfeit bills found in Canada tripled between 2024 and 2025, with more than 143,000 fake bills reported last year.
