A 53 year old female, and resident of Saanich, was arrested on January 14, 2013, for attempting to make a purchase using a counterfeit American twenty dollar bill.
Shortly after 2:30 in the afternoon, Saanich Police received a report of the female attempting to use the counterfeit money to make a purchase at a business in the 3400 block of Saanich Road. While police were attempting to locate the female, a further report determined that she was making further attempts at Tillicum mall.
Police located and arrested the female, at which time, it was determined that she had attempted the same fraud at the same business the previous week. The suspect had been recognized by staff at the business.
Information will be forwarded to Crown requesting charges for two counts of Fraud. The female was released and will make her first appearance in Court on March 4, 2013.
Owners and employees of retail businesses are warned that there may have been other locations where the female was successful in passing the counterfeit money, obtaining goods and services as a result.
Anyone who wishes to report any further incidents are encouraged to contact the Saanich Police at 250-475-4321.
For information on how to detect American currency, please visit www.secretservice.gov/money_detect.shtml. Furthermore, inquiries relating to Canadian counterfeit currency can be directed to the Integrated Counterfeit Enforcement Team in Surrey, BC.
2013-949