The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are advising caution as counterfeit change begins to surface. Officers responded to a call from a store on Regent Street in Hawkesbury, which reported counterfeit two-dollar coins, or toonies, being used to purchase items. The OPP would like everyone to be aware of this and to be vigilant in assuring they do not fall victim to this fraud.
A cursory inspection will reveal the fraud, as there are many obvious differences between a legitimate toonie and a fraud. A legitimate toonie will have a polar bear on the face in gold, with “2 dollars” written along the silver border, and an image of Queen Elizabeth on the reverse side. The counterfeit coins have an image of a walrus on the front, with “Z dollars” written along the border and an image of an old man on the reverse.
Anyone with information on this investigation is asked to contact the Hawkesbury OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222- 8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
