A Quick-Reference Tool for Police

Security Features of the Counterfeiting Offences Canadian Journey Series Refer to Sections 448 to 462 of the Criminal Code. S. 449: Making counterfeit money 3 S. 450: Possession of counterfeit money 1 S. 452: Uttering counterfeit money Security Features of 2 Maximum sentence: 14 years Canadian Bank Notes Note: Forged polymer bank notes fall within the A quick-reference 4 definition of “counterfeit money” under S. 448(b) of the Criminal Code. tool for police 1. Metallic stripe For Information on Counterfeiting If you suspect that a note Tilt the note. The numbers and maple leaves change colour. may be counterfeit, submit it National Anti-Counterfeiting Bureau 2. Ghost image immediately to the National Royal Canadian Mounted Police Hold the note up to the light and look through it. A small, Anti-Counterfeiting Bureau 613 993-0664 ghost-like image of the portrait appears. It is visible from in Ottawa. [email protected] both sides of the note. 3. Dashes For basic skills in dealing with counterfeit bank notes, • Hold the note up to the light and look through it. The complete Counterfeit Currency Analysis (an online course dashes form a solid line. for police) available at www.cpkn.ca or Agora for • Tilt the note. The dashes shift from gold to green. the RCMP. Small characters (e.g., CAN 20) match the note’s value. For more on security features and training materials, including Wise Up to 4. Puzzle number Counterfeiting: A Guide for Police Officers: Hold the note up to the light and look through it. Irregular marks on the front and back of the note form a complete Bank of Canada number. It is visible from both sides of the note. 1 888 513-8212 Note: The original $5 and $10 notes of the Canadian [email protected] Journey series (2001–2002) had different security www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes features that did not include any of the above. © Bank of Canada 2011 33-PL (05-11) Security Features of the $100 and $50 Notes in the Polymer Series How to Verify Bank Notes Look Checking the security features on bank notes is simple Large window Frosted maple leaf window to do. Even reasonably good counterfeits are easy to Look for transparency through the large window that Look at the frosted maple leaf window to see that it has recognize when you focus on the security features. contains the following features. a transparent outline. • Make it a habit to Feel, Look and Flip each note. Metallic portrait Hidden numbers • Compare a suspect note to a genuine note. Look at the details in the The hidden numbers are a • Look for differences rather than similarities. metallic portrait. It matches security feature that you can the large portrait. use to further verify a note. Frosted maple leaf window Large window Transparent text Look at the word “Canada.” It 1. Place the frosted maple is transparent and feels slightly leaf window close to your raised. eye. Small numbers 2. Look through the frosted Look at the numbers in and maple leaf window at an around the large window that eye-safe, single-point match the note’s value. Some of light source such as a the numbers appear in reverse. pot light or a household (incandescent) light bulb. Metallic building Look at the details in the 3. See a circle of numbers Hidden numbers Raised ink metallic building. Tilt the note matching the note’s to see sharp colour changes in value appear through Feel the building. the frosted maple leaf window. Before checking a note, feel the smooth, unique texture. Maple leaf border It’s made from a single piece of polymer with some Look at the maple leaves that transparent areas. border the large window. Some of the leaves cross into the window. Raised ink Flip Feel the raised ink on the shoulders of the large portrait, the large number, and the words “Bank of Canada” and Flip the note to see the features in the large window “Banque du Canada.” repeated in the same colours and detail on the other side.