The Battleford RCMP are investigating complaints of counterfeit bills from two different incidents.

In the first incident, two males tried to pay for inexpensive items with a large bank note. Prior to being able to pay, the staff member was able to notice the bill, which was in a poor quality, was not a true bank note.

The second involved a woman paying for fuel with a fifty dollar bill, that also was of poor condition. In this incident the employee was unable to realize the fifty was a fake prior to taking payment.

Sgt Jason Teniuk, of the Battleford detachment, says that the two incidents aren't the only two. "Since I released that information this morning we have had four phone calls also reporting counterfeit money being used, so we are soon realizing that this has been going on for a while and isn't a isolated incident."

He went on to advice on how to prevent further incidents "knowing what money looks like, what it feels like, put them up to the light get a good look at them."

To tell if the money is counterfeit there are several security features that make it hard to replicate

The first step to determining if its counterfeit is what is made of. Canadian money is made of polymer, which is a mixture of synthetic and natural substances which creates a plastic like feel and makes the money glisten.

After confirming its not made of paper you can then look who's head is proudly displayed on the note.

The five dollar note should have Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Ten dollars has Prime Minister Sir John A Macdonald. Queen Elizabeth II's face sits on the twenty. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King is proudly projected on Canada's fifty.  And the eighth Prime Minister, Sir Robert Borden represents the hundred dollar bill.

After confirming the correct portrait look for a transparent strip.

The strip will run top to bottom vertically when the bill is held horizontally. It will have a portrait matching the one on the bill, a distinct Canadian building each dollar value has a different building just like the different heads, and it will give the value of the note. When turned in the light you will be able to see different colours and details that may not be noticeable when looking directly at the bill.

Canadian money has also been equipped with multiple areas that are slightly raised. Running fingers over the bill will reveal the raised areas which are: the large printed number, the words 'Bank of Canada' in both French and English, and the numbers on the transparent strip.

One final security feature to note is the frosted maple leaf with a transparent outline.

All of these security features help to distinguish frontier notes. Canada is also set to release the first vertical Canadian note of November 19, 2018. The new Note is meant to be less viable to be duplicated however knowing how to tell real from fake is just as important. Four distinct features help to recognize the vertical currency.

The vertical ten dollars depicts the face of Viola Desmond. Desmond was a successful business woman who was of colour and was jailed for refusing to leave the whites-only seating in the theatre. Her inspiring story helped to create the fight for racial equality across Canada.

Instead of a transparent strip it was changed to a large transparent window that sits directly beneath Desmond. Inside the square sits the vaulted dome ceiling of Parliament's Library.

The museum of human rights is the building that can be seen on the opposite side to Desmond. Which is where the story of Viola Desmond can be found.

Finally in the top left corner sits an eagle feather that shimmers with colour.

For more information on how to tell real from counterfeit or to admire the new vertical bank note go to Bank of Canada's website. If you do find a counterfeit its advisable to contact the police as soon as possible.