What should I do if a customer gives me a fake bill?

Make sure you are safe, then politely refuse it, explain why and ask for another note. Suggest the person check it with police, and tell your local police about it.

Does a store have to accept cash?

No. The Bank of Canada says no law requires anyone to accept cash, so each business decides how it takes payment.

How do I round a cash total?

Round the final total after tax to the nearest 5 cents: 1 or 2 cents round down, 3 or 4 round up to 5, 6 or 7 round down to 5, and 8 or 9 round up. Card payments are not rounded.

Head office called and asked me to activate gift cards. Is that normal?

No. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre warns this is a common scam. Hang up, check with your manager using contact details from your work directory, and do not give out any card numbers.

Is the certificate accredited or officially recognised?

No. It is a private certificate of completion for knowledge only. It is not recognised, accredited or approved by any government, licensing body, regulator or educational institution, and it does not replace any licence, certification or training required by law.

Cashier Fraud and Counterfeit Prevention 2026

Question 1 of 25

Which parts on the front of a Canadian polymer note should feel raised under your fingers?

The serial number and the signatures on the back
Only the edges and corners of the note
The portrait, large number and "Bank of Canada"
The clear window and the maple leaves around it

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Answer: C. The portrait, large number and "Bank of Canada"

The Bank of Canada says the portrait, the large number and the words "Bank of Canada" on the front are raised.

Question 2 of 25

When you look at the large window of a polymer note, what should the metallic portrait do?

Appear only under a black light
Be printed in plain black ink
Show a different person from the front
Match the large portrait on the front

Show answer

Answer: D. Match the large portrait on the front

The metallic portrait in the large window should match the large portrait on the front of the note.

Question 3 of 25

What should happen when you tilt a genuine polymer note toward you?

The note curls up and stays folded in half
The metallic portrait and holograms change colour
The large number on the front slowly fades away to grey
The words on the back start to glow brightly

Show answer

Answer: B. The metallic portrait and holograms change colour

The Bank of Canada's "tilt" check: the metallic portrait and other holographic features should change colour on both sides.

Question 4 of 25

On the vertical $10 note, what should you see when you flip the note over?

A paper strip printed with the note's serial number
A blank back with no images or text on it
A different dollar value printed on the back
The front's metallic images, in the same colours

Show answer

Answer: D. The front's metallic images, in the same colours

On the vertical $10, the metallic elements on the front should repeat on the back in the same colours and detail.

Question 5 of 25

Which bank notes does the Bank of Canada say you should check?

Only $50 and $100 notes
Only notes that look worn
All notes, large and small
Only notes from new customers

Show answer

Answer: C. All notes, large and small

The Bank of Canada says to check all notes, large and small, not just the ones that look unusual.

Question 6 of 25

A customer hands you a note you think is fake. According to the Bank of Canada's advice for retailers, what should you do first?

Take the note and call them a criminal
Lock the door so the person cannot leave
Make sure you are not at risk
Tear the note in half in front of them

Show answer

Answer: C. Make sure you are not at risk

The Bank's first step for retailers is to assess the situation to make sure you are not at risk. Your safety comes before the note.

Question 7 of 25

It is safe to deal with a suspect note at your till. What does the Bank of Canada advise?

Keep the note and tell the customer to leave the store
Politely refuse it, explain why and ask for another note
Hand it back without saying anything about it
Accept it, then put it under the cash tray for the manager

Show answer

Answer: B. Politely refuse it, explain why and ask for another note

Politely refuse the note, explain that you suspect it may be counterfeit, ask for another note and check that one too.

Question 8 of 25

Why does the Bank of Canada tell cashiers to stay courteous with a person who offers a suspect note?

The store will be paid back for it
Being polite makes the note legal
The note is probably real in most cases
The person may be an innocent victim

Show answer

Answer: D. The person may be an innocent victim

Be courteous: the person holding the note could be an innocent victim who received it somewhere else.

Question 9 of 25

While counting the till at closing, you find a note you think is counterfeit. What should you do with it?

Throw it in the garbage
Use it as change for the next customer
Keep it in your wallet
Give it to the local police

Show answer

Answer: D. Give it to the local police

Give a suspected counterfeit found after a sale to the local police. If it turns out to be genuine, you get it back.

Question 10 of 25

Your store took a fake $50 by mistake. Will anyone pay the store back?

Yes, the store's bank must cover it
Yes, the Bank of Canada replaces it
No, whoever accepts it takes the loss
Yes, the police pay the store back for it

Show answer

Answer: C. No, whoever accepts it takes the loss

The Bank of Canada says whoever accepts a counterfeit, knowingly or not, bears the loss. There is no reimbursement.

Question 11 of 25

A note is printed with "For Motion Picture Use" and has no clear window. How should a cashier treat it?

As legal tender worth half its face value
As real money for a film company
As counterfeit, so do not accept it
As a coupon for a discount

Show answer

Answer: C. As counterfeit, so do not accept it

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre warns that novelty and prop notes are treated as counterfeit under Canadian law and often lack security features.

Question 12 of 25

Under section 452 of the Criminal Code, what is the maximum prison term for knowingly using counterfeit money as if it were real?

2 years
5 years
6 months
14 years

Show answer

Answer: D. 14 years

Section 452 makes uttering or using counterfeit money an indictable offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Question 13 of 25

According to the Bank of Canada, does any law require a business to accept cash?

Yes, every business must accept cash
Yes, but only for amounts under $100
No, a business can choose how it is paid
Only stores that sell food must take cash

Show answer

Answer: C. No, a business can choose how it is paid

The Bank of Canada says there is no law that requires anyone to accept cash. Businesses can choose how they want to be paid.

Question 14 of 25

A customer offers an old Canadian $2 bill to pay for a coffee. What is true?

It must be given to police as counterfeit
It is no longer legal tender, but a bank will redeem it
It is still legal tender, so the store must accept it
It is worthless now and should be torn up and thrown out

Show answer

Answer: B. It is no longer legal tender, but a bank will redeem it

Since January 1, 2021, the $1, $2, $25, $500 and $1,000 notes are no longer legal tender. They keep their face value and can be redeemed through a financial institution or the Bank of Canada.

Question 15 of 25

Under the Currency Act, a payment made in $1 coins is legal tender up to what amount?

$25
$100
$5
$10

Show answer

Answer: A. $25

Section 8 of the Currency Act limits a payment in $1 coins to $25. A business may still choose to accept more.

Question 16 of 25

A cash sale comes to $7.43 after tax. Under the federal rounding guideline, what does the customer pay?

$7.50
$7.40
$7.45
$7.43

Show answer

Answer: C. $7.45

Cash totals are rounded to the nearest five cents: amounts ending in 3 or 4 cents round up to 5 cents.

Question 17 of 25

A customer pays a $12.98 total by debit card. How much is charged?

$13.00
$12.98
$13.05
$12.95

Show answer

Answer: B. $12.98

Rounding applies only to cash. Debit, credit and cheque payments are charged the exact amount.

Question 18 of 25

A customer offers to type their debit PIN slowly while you watch "to make sure it works." What is right?

Write the PIN down in case it is needed later
Watch closely so you can help if it fails
Enter the PIN for them to save time
Let them enter it privately and do not look

Show answer

Answer: D. Let them enter it privately and do not look

Under the Canadian Code of Practice for Consumer Debit Card Services, cardholders must keep their PIN secure and tell it to no one. Staff should never ask for it or watch it being typed.

Question 19 of 25

A caller says they are from your head office and tells you to activate several gift cards and read them the numbers. What is this?

A known scam called a head office spoof
A normal audit from the head office team
A routine test of the gift card system
A customer service survey

Show answer

Answer: A. A known scam called a head office spoof

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre describes the head office spoof: a fraudster posing as head office asks staff to activate prepaid cards and give them the details.

Question 20 of 25

You get an urgent email that seems to be from a senior manager asking you to buy gift cards. What should you do?

Check with the manager using the work directory
Forward it to a coworker and let them decide
Reply to the email to ask if it is real
Buy the cards fast so you do not get in trouble

Show answer

Answer: A. Check with the manager using the work directory

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre advises checking unusual requests by looking up the person in your work directory and contacting them directly.

Question 21 of 25

A phone order is paid by credit card, and the caller insists on rush shipping. Why is this a warning sign?

Phone orders must always be picked up in person
Credit card companies will not pay for rush shipping costs
Stolen card users want the goods before the owner notices
Rush shipping is not allowed for any order taken by phone

Show answer

Answer: C. Stolen card users want the goods before the owner notices

In card-not-present fraud, criminals order with stolen cards and ask for rush shipping. When the real cardholder disputes it, the business must pay back the charge.

Question 22 of 25

A buyer asks you to charge extra on their credit card and send them the difference to cover shipping. What is likely going on?

A normal way to pay a shipping company
A tax rule for shipping costs
A loyalty program reward
A way to turn a stolen card into cash

Show answer

Answer: D. A way to turn a stolen card into cash

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre warns about this overcharge trick, which lets fraudsters turn stolen credit cards into cash.

Question 23 of 25

A person buys a pack of gum with a $50 bill, then keeps asking to swap bills while you make change. What scam is this?

A quick change scam
A card skimming scam
A refund scam
A gift card scam

Show answer

Answer: A. A quick change scam

In a quick change scam, the person pays for a cheap item with a large bill and asks to swap money during the change-making to confuse the cashier into giving too much.

Question 24 of 25

Why do many stores ask for ID when someone returns an item without a receipt?

To check the customer's age for all purchases
Because the law requires ID for every return
To deter fraud, such as returning stolen goods
To add the customer to the store's mailing list

Show answer

Answer: C. To deter fraud, such as returning stolen goods

The federal privacy office notes that retailers ask for ID on returns without a receipt to help confirm the return is legitimate and deter fraud, such as stolen goods being returned.

Question 25 of 25

Your store has lost money to a fraud. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, who should a fraud victim contact as soon as possible?

A newspaper
The local police
The Bank of Canada
The Competition Bureau

Show answer

Answer: B. The local police

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre says fraud victims should contact their local police as soon as possible, and also report the fraud to the Centre.

Cashier Fraud and Counterfeit Prevention 2026

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