Ponoka RCMP have arrested a man who allegedly attempted to use counterfeit currency multiple times.
Police say Ponoka’s Timothy Jay Rairdan, 40, is allegedly responsible for five incidents.
RCMP were contacted just after 7:30 p.m. Friday by a store in Ponoka, where a man was believed to have used a counterfeit $100 bill. Police arrested the man and seized the currency. He was found to be in possession of other counterfeit bills.
The same individual is alleged to have passed a fake $50 bill at a drug store on June 30, a $50 bill at a different drug store on July 2 and two $100 bills on July 16 – the first bill used to make a purchase and the second converted to smaller currency.
On July 18, a local bank received several counterfeit bills in deposits from various businesses, but the RCMP has not linked those bills to Rairdan.
He is charged with eight counts of counterfeit money. He is scheduled to appear in Ponoka provincial court on Sept. 13.
“It’s unfortunate that so many businesses in the town fell prey to these fake bills,” said Sgt. Chris Smiley, acting detachment commander of the Ponoka RCMP.
“When in doubt, check the bill out. It pays for business owners and cashiers to know how to recognize counterfeits.”
Anyone who suspects they have been offered a counterfeit note during a transaction should do the following, say police:
- Politely refuse the note and explain that you suspect that it may be counterfeit;
- Ask for another note (and check it too);
- Advise the person to check the note with the local police;
- Inform your local police of a possible attempt to pass suspected counterfeit money.