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Cashier Fraud and Counterfeit Prevention: Lessons 2026

These lessons are for cashiers and other staff who take payments in Canada. They are based on Bank of Canada and Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre guidance and federal law. Always follow your store's cash handling and fraud policies.

  • Kursens lektioner
  • 5 min läsning
  • Kontrollerad 13 oktober 2026

Gör kursprovet

Lesson 1: Checking bank notes

Canada's bank notes are made of polymer, a smooth plastic film with clear areas. Their security features are easy to check and hard to copy, but they only work if you use them. The Bank of Canada says to check all notes, large and small, not just the ones that look odd.

Feel, look, tilt, flip

CheckWhat a genuine note shows
FeelOne smooth piece of polymer. The portrait, the large number and the words "Bank of Canada" on the front are raised.
LookThe metallic portrait in the large window matches the large portrait on the front. Numbers in and around the window match the note's value.
TiltTilt the top of the note toward you. The metallic portrait and other holographic features change colour on both sides.
FlipThe window portrait matches the front portrait. On the vertical $10, the metallic images on the front repeat on the back in the same colours and detail.

Use more than one check. A note that feels different, prints poorly, has no clear window, holograms or raised ink, or looks pieced together is a warning sign.

Lesson 2: When you suspect a counterfeit

The Bank of Canada gives retailers these steps when a suspect note is offered:

  1. Assess the situation to make sure you are not at risk.
  2. Politely refuse the note and explain that you suspect it may be counterfeit.
  3. Ask for another note, and check that one too.
  4. Advise the person to check the note with the local police.
  5. Inform your local police of the possible attempt to pass a counterfeit.

Be courteous. The person may be an innocent victim who was given the note somewhere else. Do not accuse them, block their way or try to hold them.

Found after the sale

If you find a suspect note later, for example when you count the till, give it to the local police along with any details about who gave it to you. If it turns out to be genuine, it is returned. Never pass it on as change.

Who pays, and what the law says

  • Whoever accepts a counterfeit, knowingly or not, takes the loss. Nobody pays it back.
  • Novelty or prop notes, such as ones marked "Prop Money" or "For Motion Picture Use", are treated as counterfeit under Canadian law.
  • Under section 452 of the Criminal Code, knowingly using counterfeit money as if it were real can bring up to 14 years in prison.

Lesson 3: Cash rules at the till

The Bank of Canada says no law requires anyone to accept cash. A business can choose how it is paid. Follow your store's payment policy.

Old notes

Since January 1, 2021, the $1, $2, $25, $500 and $1,000 notes are no longer legal tender, so stores may refuse them. They still keep their face value: the owner can take them to a financial institution or send them to the Bank of Canada.

Coins

Section 8 of the Currency Act limits how much a single payment in coins counts as legal tender. A store may still choose to accept more.

CoinLegal tender limit per payment
$2 coins$40
$1 coins$25
10, 25 and 50 cent coins$10
5 cent coins$5
1 cent coins25 cents

Rounding cash totals

The Royal Canadian Mint stopped handing out pennies in 2013. Where pennies are not available, cash totals are rounded to the nearest 5 cents, after tax is added:

  • Ending in 1 or 2 cents: round down to 0.
  • Ending in 3 or 4 cents: round up to 5.
  • Ending in 6 or 7 cents: round down to 5.
  • Ending in 8 or 9 cents: round up to the next 10.

Debit, credit and cheque payments are not rounded. The customer pays the exact amount.

Lesson 4: Card and gift card fraud

PINs

Under the Canadian Code of Practice for Consumer Debit Card Services, cardholders must keep their PIN secure and tell it to no one. Never ask for a customer's PIN, never enter it for them and look away while they type it.

Phone and online orders

Card-not-present fraud happens when orders come by phone, online or email. Criminals use stolen cards and ask for rush shipping so they get the goods before the real owner notices. When the owner disputes the charge, the business must pay it back. Another trick: the buyer asks you to charge extra and send back the difference, which turns a stolen card into cash.

Gift card scams aimed at staff

  • Head office spoof: a caller says they are from head office and tells you to activate gift cards and give them the numbers, or to send money transfers.
  • Executive spoof: an email that seems to come from a senior manager asks you to buy gift cards, often as "rewards".

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre advises checking any unusual request by looking up the person in your work directory and contacting them directly. Do not use the phone number or email in the message.

Lesson 5: Counter scams and reporting

Quick change scams

In a quick change scam, a person buys something cheap with a large bill. While you make change, they keep asking to swap bills until you are confused and hand over too much. Finish one transaction completely before starting another, and call a supervisor if you lose track.

Refund fraud

Stores often ask for ID on returns without a receipt to deter fraud, such as stolen goods being "returned" for cash. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada says the less privacy-invasive way is to look at the ID and initial the slip rather than record the licence number.

Reporting fraud

  1. Tell your supervisor right away and write down what happened while it is fresh.
  2. If the business lost money, contact the local police as soon as possible.
  3. Also report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or at 1-888-495-8501.

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