Counterfeit Coupons--Who does it really hurt?

Counterfeit Coupons--Fake Coupons--are increasingly becoming a huge problem as the popularity of intense couponing draws more and more shoppers in.

I often think about how much it's going to affect ME, but not so much others.  We like to say "these people are going to ruin it for everyone", and we have seen that happen.  Some stores no longer accept printable coupons that state the word "free" and some stores won't take internet printables at all.

Last year I had a conversation with some cashiers about a soup coupon.  A man had been coming in their store repeatedly with printable coupons that scored him LOTS of free soup.  I explained that I hadn't seen that coupon, and 75% of the time you can only get 2 per computer--this guy must have had a lot of computers.  I came home and did some research, then went back to tell them that yep--I found the coupon and he should not have had that many.  They pulled the coupons from the day before, and sure enough they were all copies of ONE coupon (you can tell from the pin number on the Q).  That store wasn't going to be reimbursed for probably $100 worth of soup.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I was behind a lady at Wal-Mart.  She had a massive stack of printed coupons.  As soon as the cashier saw them she informed the customer that they were not legitimate coupons.  Now I'll go ahead and give the woman the benefit of the doubt and say that she really was clueless.  I asked to see them and almost laughed....they were all for free products and obviously fake.  $6 off a pack of yogurt, $15 off a container of coffee, $10 off a 12 pack of soda....the list went on.  

When it was my turn I chatted with the cashier about the coupons and she said that for a while they HAD to take them b/c they didn't know if they were fakes or not.  She then told me that b/c Wal-Mart has lost so much money in fraudulent coupons this year, the cashiers won't be getting a Christmas bonus.

Now, I don't know if she exaggerated the $$ amount or the consequences, but it hit me that it isn't just us couponers who will be hurt by this.  I also thought--No wonder many cashiers don't like us!

We like to think that anyone who reads our site would never intentionally copy or attempt to use fraudulent coupons.   

Almost ALWAYS, a coupon for a FREE product will be mailed to you or will come in a magazine/insert.  They will NOT be emailed to you.

If you'd like to check the list of current fraudulent coupons being circulated, go HERE.  It's always good to be informed!