2026年才剛開始，加拿大警方與金融機構就接連發出警告：假加元正在市面上快速擴散，其中又以多倫多地區最為嚴重。被查獲的偽鈔面額涵蓋20元、50元與100元，而且製作水準明顯升級，外觀幾乎可以亂真，讓一般民眾在日常消費時更容易中招。

警方指出，這一波假鈔與過去粗製濫造的版本不同，無論是顏色、透明窗設計，甚至紙鈔的手感，都刻意模仿真鈔，專門鎖定商家、夜市、便利商店與現金交易頻繁的場所。因此，加拿大央行與警方再次提醒民眾，即使沒有專業驗鈔設備，也可以透過幾個直觀的方法快速初步判斷真偽。

第一個方法是「翻」。將鈔票翻到背面，仔細查看透明窗內的肖像圖案，真正的加元在透明窗中的人物肖像，必須與正面的大型主肖像完全一致，位置與比例清楚銜接，而假鈔往往在翻轉後會出現對不齊、模糊或角度怪異的情況。

第二個方法是「摸」。加拿大真鈔採用特殊聚合物材質，手感平滑但不滑膩，整體厚度一致。用手指輕輕觸摸正面主要人物的臉部或數字位置，應該能明顯感覺到立體的凸起感，這是印刷工藝的關鍵特徵。許多假鈔雖然外觀看似相同，但摸起來要嘛過於平坦，要嘛材質偏軟或偏硬，缺乏那種自然的立體層次。

第三個方法是「看」。在自然光或白光下觀察鈔票整體色澤，真鈔的顏色層次分明，過渡自然，不會顯得灰暗或過於鮮豔。假鈔常見的破綻在於色差不穩定，有時整張偏色，有時局部顏色過深或過淺，尤其在透明窗邊緣與金屬感圖案上最容易露餡。

警方也提醒，如果發現疑似假鈔，切勿再度流通或自行處理，應盡快交給警方或銀行，由專業單位鑑定。隨著假鈔技術不斷進化，「翻、摸、看」這三個基本動作，已成為 2026 年在加拿大使用現金時不可或缺的自保習慣。

As 2026 has only just begun, Canadian police and financial institutions have already issued repeated warnings: counterfeit Canadian dollars are rapidly spreading, with Toronto being one of the hardest-hit areas. The fake banknotes discovered so far include denominations of CAD 20, 50, and 100, and their production quality has noticeably improved. Many look almost identical to genuine notes, making it much easier for ordinary people to be deceived during everyday cash transactions.

Police point out that this new wave of counterfeits is very different from the crude fakes of the past. In terms of color, transparent window design, and even the feel of the material, these notes are deliberately made to imitate real Canadian currency. They are often circulated in places with frequent cash use, such as small shops, night markets, convenience stores, and other retail environments. As a result, the Bank of Canada and law enforcement agencies are once again reminding the public that even without professional detection equipment, there are a few simple and effective ways to make a quick initial judgment.

The first method is “flip.” Turn the banknote over and carefully examine the portrait inside the transparent window. On genuine Canadian banknotes, the portrait within the window must exactly match the large main portrait on the front in terms of appearance and alignment. On counterfeit notes, the image may appear misaligned, blurry, or oddly angled when viewed from the back.

The second method is “feel.” Real Canadian banknotes are made from a special polymer material that feels smooth but not slippery, with a consistent thickness. When you gently touch the main portrait or the raised numbers on the front, you should clearly feel a noticeable raised texture. This tactile feature is a key element of the printing process. Many counterfeit notes may look convincing, but they often feel too flat, too soft, or too stiff, lacking the natural layered relief of a genuine bill.

The third method is “look.” Observe the overall color of the banknote under natural light or white light. Authentic notes have clear color layers and smooth transitions, without appearing dull or overly bright. Counterfeit notes often reveal flaws in color consistency: the entire note may look slightly off, or certain areas may appear too dark or too light. These issues are especially noticeable around the edges of the transparent window and metallic-looking security features.

Police also stress that if you encounter a banknote suspected to be counterfeit, you should not attempt to pass it on or handle it yourself. Instead, it should be handed over to the police or a bank as soon as possible for professional verification. As counterfeit technology continues to evolve, these simple habits—flip, feel, and look—have become essential self-protection skills for anyone using cash in Canada in 2026.