RCMP Frauds and Scams - Currency Counterfeiting Statistics

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Currency Counterfeiting Statistics

News Release
Public Warned of Counterfeit Bank Notes Bearing a Genuine Security Feature (2007-08-08)

<< Return to Counterfeiting index >>

Overview

Counterfeiting in Canada includes not only the manufacture of false bank notes, but also forged credit cards, traveller's cheques, passports, and various identity documents.

Phoney identification has been used to obtain government assistance, personal loans, unemployment insurance benefits and to victimize governments, individuals and corporate bodies.

Counterfeit Bank Notes Passed and Seized — Activity by Province — 2006

Counterfeit Canadian Bank Notes Passed and Seized - Activity by Province

Province	Number passed and seized
Quebec	105,065
Ontario	141,667
Alberta	12,495
British Columbia	53,217
Newfoundland	587
Nova Scotia	2,312
Prince Edward Island	12
New Brunswick	753
Manitoba	4,206
Saskatchewan	2,111
Northwest Territories	46
Yukon Territories	15
Nunavut	0

All financial loss, however, is traced back to the consumer who must pay higher prices as a result of counterfeiting. Technological advances in the printing process allow counterfeiters to improve their product and make law enforcement tasks more demanding.

Counterfeit Canadian Bank Notes Passed — By Denomination 2005/2006

Counterfeit Canadian Bank Notes passed - by denomination

2006
Bank Note	Number passed	Percent
$5	16,813	5.9 %
$10	64,301	22.4 %
$20	171,690	59.8 %
$50	18,749	6.5 %
$100	15,527	5.4 %
$1000	8	0.002%
	Total 287,088 (Value $6,659,048)

2005
Bank Note	Number passed	Percent
$ 5	13,202	3.3%
$ 10	164,982	41.0%
$ 20	166,103	41.3%
$ 50	28,940	7.2%
$ 100	29,068	7.2%
$ 1000	8	0.002%
	Total 402,303 (Value $9,339,697)

Total Number of Canadian Bank Notes Passed — 2006

Total Number of Canadian Bank Notes Passed and Seized ? 2004

Year	Total Number passed
2006	287,106
2005	402,308
2004	552,749

Counterfeit Canadian Bank Notes - Passed and Seized — 2003/2004/2005/2006

Counterfeit Canadian Bank Notes - Passed and Seized

	2003 Seized	2003 Passed	2004 Seized	2004 Passed	2005 Seized	2005 Passed	2006¹ Seized	2006 Passed
$1,000	2	44	0	12	64	8	1	8
$100	3,970	51,225	12,615	33,424	3,351	29,068	5,648	15,527
$50	2,881	52,660	4,655	22,052	1,193	28,940	4,582	18,749
$20	44,542	161,557	51,986	360,160	11,683	166,103	15,329	171,690
$10	2,556	158,997	25,568	123,400	2,959	164,982	9,262	64,301
$5	336	18,800	500	13,932	889	13,202	573	16,813

¹Concluded files only

Prepared by: RCMP National Anti-Counterfeiting Bureau (NACB)

Links

Bank of Canada Counterfeit detection
Canadian Bankers Association Credit Card Fraud

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Canadian Consumer Information Gateway