High-quality counterfeit gold bars sold in Winnipeg and other Canadian cities, police say

If you're planning on buying gold bars anytime soon, Winnipeg police are advising extra caution after a series of "suspicious transactions" at locations in the city.

The transactions took place on Nov. 30 at a number of pawn shops and gold buyers, police said, involving the sale or pawning of counterfeit one-ounce gold bars.

Six of the bars were exchanged in Winnipeg for just under $5,000.

City police said officers in other Canadian cities also investigated similar incidents.

Police said the bars and packaging were very high-quality counterfeits.

They were bearing either Perth Mint or PAMP (Produits Artistiques Métaux Précieux — Switzerland) stamps.

High-quality counterfeit gold bars sold in Winnipeg and other Canadian cities, police say