Police are warning about counterfeit currency after receiving 23 complaints in B.C.’s Interior in the last two weeks.

The incidents involved bank notes in $50 and $100 denominations and occurred in West Kelowna, Penticton, Kamloops and other communities in the southern Interior, according to police.

Sgt. Rick Dellebuur said police are looking for a Caucasian male suspect, around 5-11, with light brown shaved hair who was seen allegedly passing the currency in a variety of Okanagan businesses.

“They had cut the [metallic] strip off $5 bills and glued it to fake printed $50 or $100 bills,” Dellebuur said. “They weren’t good quality, but with the strip it passed.”

Dellebuur said the suspect was spending the money predominantly at restaurants and coffee shops, but also hit big chains such as Walmart and Shoppers Drug Mart, as well as an adult entertainment store.

“He just comes in and tries to pay for whatever he buys with the $100 bill and if the employees didn’t think it was right or they asked for a smaller denomination he would provide the $50 bill, which turned out to be counterfeit,” he said.

The counterfeit currency was photocopied from older style paper bills. Dellebuur is urging businesses to familiarize staff with the security features of real currency and to turn down any bills they suspect are fake.

“Real bills have some great security features that are easily noticed if people take some extra time. Familiarize yourself and employees with them -- that can be done online from the Bank of Canada,” he said.

Police do not consider the suspect to be dangerous. “Most of the time if a clerk turned down a bill, he just took off. You’re not going to get in a confrontation,” Dellebuur said.

Mounties estimate the man has spent around $2,000 in fake money since July 23.