Date: Monday, September 15, 2025
File: 25-35469
Victoria, B.C. – Police continue to investigate a fraud that occurred at the Esquimalt Ribfest event, held September 5-7 on the 1100-block of Lyall Street, as detailed in the initial report: Police Investigate 3D-Printed Fraud at Ribfest.
Police have now released a photo of one of the counterfeit tokens believed to have been produced using a 3D printer. Event organizers estimate the total financial loss from these counterfeit tokens to be approximately $2,000. A comparison photo showing a counterfeit token next to a genuine one has been released to help the public identify the fakes.
Counterfeit token (left) compared to a genuine Ribfest token (right).
Police are asking anyone who encountered suspicious activity during the event, or who has information regarding the counterfeit tokens, to come forward. Investigators are particularly interested in anyone who observed individuals attempting to exchange an unusually large number of tokens, or who noticed anything out of the ordinary.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the E-Comm non-emergency line at 250-995-7654 ext. 1 and reference file number 25-35469, or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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