By Sheldon Spackman

Funny Money

Ponoka man facing counterfeit currency charges

Jul 23, 2019 | 3:46 PM

A Ponoka man is facing charges after RCMP arrested a suspect accused of passing counterfeit currency at a store last week.

Mounties say the incident happened on July 19, with police believing the same man is responsible for four prior similar incidents.

The Friday night incident happened around 7:36 p.m. when a store in Ponoka contacted RCMP to advise that a man was at the store and had just used a counterfeit $100 bill.

RCMP arrested the man and seized the currency, adding he was also found to be in possession of other counterfeit bills.

On June 30, Mounties say the same man is alleged to have passed a fake $50 bill at a local drug store. On July 2, police say another counterfeit $50 bill was used at a different drug store.

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Then on July 16, RCMP say the same man was determined to have used two counterfeit $100 bills, with the first bill used to make a purchase and the second bill converted to smaller currency.

Furthermore, on July 18, a local bank received several counterfeit bills in deposits from various businesses, but the RCMP have not linked those bills to the man charged.

40-year-old Timothy Jay Rairdan of Ponoka has been charged with eight counts of Counterfeit Money: Uttering, using and exporting.

Rairdan has been released on a recognizance and is scheduled to appear in Ponoka Provincial Court on Sept. 13.

“It’s unfortunate that so many businesses in the town fell prey to these fake bills,” says Sergeant Chris Smiley, acting Detachment Commander of Ponoka RCMP, in a press release. “When in doubt, check the bill out. It pays for business owners and cashiers to know how to recognize counterfeits.”

Members of the public are reminded to check for the security features present on every note issued by the Bank of Canada.

Those security features include feeling the raised ink on the large number on the note, looking at the frosted maple leaf window to see its transparent outline and feeling the raised words “Banque du Canada” and “Bank of Canada”.

Others include looking at the numbers that match the note’s value and at the word “Canada” that feels slightly raised, looking at the metallic portrait which matches the large portrait, tilting to see it change colour and flipping to see it on the other side.

In addition, you can also look for the maple leaves that border and cross into the large window.

If you suspect you have been offered a counterfeit note during a transaction, RCMP encourage you to assess the situation to ensure you are not at risk; then politely refuse the note and explain that you suspect that it may be counterfeit.

Next, ask for another note (and check it too).

Advise the person to check the note with the local police and finally, inform your local police of a possible attempt to pass suspected counterfeit money.

(With files from Ponoka RCMP)