‘It looks real, it feels real’: Winnipeg seeing spike in counterfeit money

Winnipeg police are warning people of an increase in counterfeit money circulating in the city. Danton Unger reports.

Check your wallet – the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) says there’s a spike in counterfeit bills circulating the city.

Officers have received more than double the number of counterfeit reports in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same time last year, resulting in the seizure of $12,000 worth of banknotes.

“We haven’t seen counterfeiting issues to this level in almost a generation,” Sgt. Trevor Thompson with the WPS’ financial crime unit said at a news conference on Friday.

It’s no surprise to Ravi Ramberran, the owner of Four Crown’s Restaurant and Bar.

“It looks real. It feels real,” he said, holding a counterfeit $20 bill that was recently used at his business. “We try to catch them, but sometimes it’s very difficult. You know, some of them are pretty good.”

He’s not alone.

Const. Keith Ladobruk said these bank notes are being found all over the city.

“They’re turning up at restaurants, retailers. It’s not one specific area. It’s pretty much all over,” he said.

The WPS warns most of these incidents involve the use of a specific type of counterfeit banknote, believed to have been brought in from outside the country and sold on social media platforms.

These fake bills come in denominations of $20, $50, and $100.

They have the words “prop money” printed in reverse in small black print on the top of the holographic strip and embedded into the banknote’s holographic image.

The money currently being seized also contains the serial numbers GJR6710018 through GJR6710022.

Police warn that this money is high quality and mirrors the look and feel of real polymer banknotes.

“People just aren’t aware. That’s how good of quality these bills are,” said Thompson.

The Bank of Canada told CTV News it is aware of the increase in counterfeits and is monitoring the trend.

To better detect fraudulent money, police suggest looking out for notes with a slight difference in colour, pictures that are starting to wear off, creases in the middle, and a slightly raised holographic strip.

Anyone with concerns that their cash may be counterfeit is encouraged to speak to their financial institution or consult online with the Bank of Canada.

Those duped by the fake bills are still on the hook financially, as Thompson noted banks don’t replace counterfeits with real money.

“It’s a loss. There’s nothing you can do about,” said Ramberran.

That’s why he’s been training his staff so they will know what’s real and what’s not.

“We’ve obviously learned our lesson the hard way a few times where we’ve just hit our losses because of it.”