Yellowknife (Apr 14/06) - Yellowknife RCMP are looking into a report of a possible counterfeit $10 bill in circulation this week.

Const. Colleen Werrell said the bill was turned in with a money deposit and then sent out for verification.

Yellowknife RCMP Sgt. Darcy Fleury shows counterfeit $50 bills found in the city last year. Any suspected fake bank notes should be brought to the RCMP or a bank for verification. - NNSL file photo

"If a counterfeit bill turns up at a bank, we send it out to our counterfeiting department in Ottawa and they confirm if it is counterfeit or not," Werrell said of the process.

About one counterfeit bill turns up each month, she said.

While she does not believe any one particular bill amount is selected for counterfeiting, Werrell said often the higher denominations are targeted because they are not commonly seen by the public.

"The average person doesn't see them very often, so it's harder to identify them," Werrell said.

If anyone suspects a bill is counterfeit, Werrell advises the person to bring it to the RCMP or bank.

"The bank deals with money every day, so they can usually tell," Werrell said.

Werrell also suggests people visit the Bank of Canada or RCMP websites for more detailed information on how to detect a phony bill.

Mike Adamchick, manager of the Toronto-Dominion Bank in Yellowknife, said bank employees can tell if a note is counterfeit.

He also said the new bills in production today are far superior to those produced years ago.

"Canada is steadily upgrading its bills and that's good," Adamchick said.

Werrell warns, however, that anyone suspecting they have received a counterfeit bill must not try to pass it to get rid of it.

"It's illegal to try to pass that as cash.

"If you are caught passing that bill, you could be charged."

Werrell also said those on the receiving end of a phony bill may be out of luck.

"Probably not," Werrell said in response to the question of whether on not a person would get compensated for the fake.

"That's just tough luck."