Police charge male with counterfeiting offences

Lethbridge Police have charged an 18-year-old Nobleford man with multiple counterfeiting offences after he used fake $100 bills to purchase a phone. 

On January 9, police responded to a report that a male had used counterfeit currency to purchase an iPhone from a Marketplace seller. Following the transaction, the seller attempted to deposit nine, $100 bills but they were repeatedly rejected by the bank machine. Investigation confirmed the bills were counterfeit.  The texture of the paper was similar to legitimate currency, but seven of the bills had the same serial number, there was no raised ink and upon removing stickers placed over the transparent windows “copy” and “prop money” was printed on each one.

Doorbell camera footage of the subject and his vehicle were provided to police and he was subsequently identified. 

On January 10, police located the subject vehicle and a traffic stop was initiated along Fairmont Boulevard South. The driver was confirmed to be the subject from the doorbell camera footage and he was subsequently arrested without incident. A search of the subject and his vehicle incidental to arrest, resulted in the seizure of the fraudulently obtained Iphone, six counterfeit $100 bills and a number of the stickers being used on the fake bills.

Dylan Anthony Macko, 18, of Nobleford, is charged with making counterfeit currency, uttering/using counterfeit currency, possession of counterfeit currency and possession of the proceeds of crime. Macko has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court January 23. 

Police advise retailers and individuals conducting personal transactions, to always inspect currency before accepting it. To check if Canadian currency is real, the Bank of Canada advises the “Feel, Look and Flip” method.

FEEL the texture:
• Raised Ink: Run your fingers over the large denomination number and the words “Bank of Canada” on the front; they should feel raised and textured, not smooth like the rest of the polymer.
• Polymer: The note should be a smooth, single piece of polymer with transparent areas, not paper.

LOOK through the window:
• Transparent Window: Hold the bill up to a light to see the clear window.
• Frosted Maple Leaf: Inside the window, look for a frosted maple leaf with a transparent outline.
• Starburst Effect: When held to a bright LED light, the frosted leaf reveals the note’s value (e.g., “$50”) as a starburst pattern.
• Matching Portraits: The metallic portrait in the window should match the large portrait on the front.

FLIP the note:
• Color-Shifting Ink: Tilt the note to see the metallic image (portrait and building) in the window shift colors.
• Mirror Image: On the back, the metallic image should be repeated in the same colors and detail on the other side of the window.

If you are in doubt about the legitimacy of any bill, do not accept it.