A St. John’s businessman is warning about fake bills circulating in the capital city area.

Brendan Quinlan, who owns Legend Tours on Water Street, had just received a warning from a neighbouring business owner about some fake American bills in circulation when he called down to his shop to warn his staff. But it was too late.

Quinlan says they accepted what appeared to be a $100 dollar American bill from a woman who spoke broken English.

He says the bill was very convincing, except for one telling detail. The bill contains Russian lettering… which translated, says on one side “souvenir” and the other side warns “Is not a means of payment!”