Middlesex OPP are asking for the public's help in identifying a man and a woman alleged to have used a counterfeit American $100 bill.
Police say the pair bought $25 worth of items from a Middlesex Centre business using what appeared to be a $100 U.S. bill on August 18. The man and woman left after getting $75 back from the store clerk.
A store employee later took the money to the bank where it was confirmed to be fake. The words "Ngan Hang Dia Phu" were printed on the back of the counterfeit bill, which investigators have determined to be Vietnamese hell money.
Hell money, also known as Joss Paper or spirit money, is traditionally burned during worship ceremonies and funerals in some Asian cultures.
On Friday, police released surveillance images of two people they are trying to identify in connection to the incident.
The man is described as Caucasian, with short hair. He was wearing what appeared to be Under Armour sandals. The female suspect is Caucasian with blonde hair. It's believed the two were driving a grey 2011-2014 Dodge Charger.
Police are reminding store owners who routinely accept American money to educate themselves on currency security features and the feel and look of the bills. They say any business owner who suspects a bill is counterfeit should ask for another form of payment or simply decline the sale.
Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to call police at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
