An Ontario man is speaking out after he lost a grand from selling gaming consoles to a man who allegedly used counterfeit bills to purchase them.
London, Ontario resident Robert Tomberlyn told CBC News in an interview that he
sold a PlayStation 5 and PlayStation VR2 for $1,000 to a man who responded to his Facebook Marketplace ad.
In early December, the man came over to his house and handed over ten $100 bills in exchange for the consoles.
The problem? Tomberlyn soon found out the money was fake.
In hindsight, he says he had a bad feeling about it.
“It looked fine, but something on the feel of the money just wasn’t sitting well with me. They were too smooth, so I took it to the bank to have them verified and unfortunately they told me they were fake bills,” he told the news outlet.
“He told me he just went to the bank and pulled out the money on his way to me, so I trusted him, which I probably shouldn’t have.”
Toronto police told Now Toronto in an email statement that according to the police’s fraud unit, these types of occurrences are not uncommon in the city, however, authorities have not seen a “rise in their frequency” lately.
Still, it’s important to protect yourself in the case that this does occur. That’s why Loans Canada provides ways Canadians can check if bills are the real deal:
- Run your fingers over it: The polymer paper of the bill should feel smooth like plastic, while certain features should feel like raised ink, such as the large numerical value and words “Bank of Canada” or “Banque du Canada”.
- Look for specific features: Certain features should be identifiable, such as the repeating numbers that match the monetary value of the bill, a unique serial number that is unlike any other bill, or the row of maple leaves along the large transparent window’s edge.
- Tilt it: When you look at the bill from different angles rather than just straight-on, the metallic portrait and building illustration in the large transparent window should change colour.
For even more tips and ways to protect yourself from fraudulent cash, click here.
