As SooToday reported earlier this month, fake toonies have made their way to Sault Ste. Marie.
Mike Turcotte, who owns Vintage Games N Junque on Queen Street, recently spotted a two-dollar coin that didn't quite look right.
His hunch proved correct — and to warn others, Turcotte posted a photo on social media of the bogus toonie beside a legitimate coin.
"It seems crazy," he told SooToday. "You would think it would cost at least a dollar for someone to make one of these, but I guess if they made enough of them it would add up and be worth it."
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service has since confirmed that other fake toonies have recently been found around town.
SooToday reporter Kenneth Armstrong, who first wrote about the counterfeit coins, was a recent guest on Village Media's "Behind the Scenes."
Video summary:
In Sault Ste. Marie, business owner Mike Turcotte recently discovered a peculiar toonie in his cash register. Upon closer inspection, he realized that the two dollar coin was counterfeit. The Vintage Games N Junque owner shared a post on social media, particularly on Facebook, alerting other business owners and residents in the Sault about the circulating counterfeit coins. Turcotte explained that as a buyer and seller of various items, including banknotes and vintage coins, he immediately noticed something was off about the coin. The counterfeit toonie had extra shine and higher ridges, which initially led Turcotte to believe it was a high-relief coin worth more money. When SooToday reporter Ken Armstrong had the chance to examine the coin, he had similar thoughts, noting the sharpness of the edges. Although it may go unnoticed in a pocket, the expertise of Turcotte raised red flags.
Discussing the motivation behind producing these fake coins and whether it's actually profitable for criminals, Armstrong mentions a previous arrest by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in which a man from Richmond Hill was found in possession of 10,000 counterfeit toonies. While the amount of any individual coin may seem insignificant, that grand total overtime ends up equating to $20,000. Despite the red flags, such as the dollar sign and the Queen's image resembling Robin Williams in "Mrs. Doubtfire," it is easy for unsuspecting individuals to accept these coins as genuine.
If someone suspects they have encountered a counterfeit coin, Lincoln Louttit, a spokesperson for the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, advises them to inform the police. The suspected counterfeit currency will be sent to the RCMP for verification, and if confirmed as counterfeit, it will be destroyed. Although it may seem excessive for a two dollar coin, it helps track the origin and circulation of these counterfeit coins in the local economy. Being vigilant and reporting any suspicions to the police is a recommended course of action.