Some of the bills are poor renditions of the real thing but some central Okanagan retailers are being tricked by the counterfeit money.
RCMP say there have been a wave of reports of fake Canadian $100 and $50 bills being circulated in Kelowna, West Kelowna and Lake Country.
The bogus bills have been used at a variety of businesses including gas stations, pharmacies and coffee shops.
“In most cases the customer has been provided with change after making a small purchase using a counterfeit bill,” says Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey.
“In other cases, the customer purchases a more expensive item at one store with the phony money then immediately returns that item for real cash at another store location of the same franchise.”
One of the fake $100 bank notes seized in West Kelowna was cut more narrow at one end than the other.
It was also taped together using what appears to be a hologram from a $10 bill.
Police have released a security camera image of a possible suspect in at least one of the counterfeit money incidents.