Halifax Regional Police are looking for a man they've labelled the "Toonie Fraudster" after three businesses were tricked into thinking he was giving them rolls of $2 coins.

Police said the man asked the businesses to swap rolls of the coins for cash. After he left, the businesses discovered the rolls were actually filled with metal washers with coins at each end.

The incidents happened between February 25 and March 25. Police said the Toonie Fraudster made one more attempt in a fourth business, but he bolted when the clerk started opening the roll.

Police said the scam has cost the businesses thousands of dollars.