As I’m starting to get into couponing, I’m learning more and more about fraudulent coupons. I have read on a few blogs about the latest one being the $2.00/2 Johnson & Johnson counterfeit coupon. It made wonder, “How can I tell if a coupon is real or not so I won’t be embarrassed at the store?!” Check out the two links below. One is an updated list of fraudulent coupons and the other is a site where you can enter the bar code number to check if the coupon is for real.
–Fraudulent Coupon List with Pictures
–Check Your Coupons
Sonja says
Tried to go to “real vs. fraudulent coupons” page twice, both times it said
“Not found—–Notify the site which sent you.”
Cheryl says
Thanks for the heads up! It looks like that site must be gone now. That was just a site I had found that would verify coupons, it wasn’t actually part of my site.
Michele says
The best way to make sure a coupon is legit is to make sure you are getting it from the manufacturer or a trusted source like Red Plum or Smart Source, Remember to never buy coupons either, thats where 99% of the problem is, plus its against most manucature terms listed on the coupon.
Cindy says
Why would there be counterfeit coupons online? Is there some reason that someone would have a site for you to go to for these printable counterfeits?
Cheryl says
Simply because people are dishonest. If a coupon is counterfeit, stores will not receive a reimbursement for the coupon, so they take a loss. Some people are just cheaters in general and will find any way they can to cheat.
Cindy says
I was just wondering how you know if the coupon is counterfiet. I print out a lot of coupons. How would I know if I am just printing out a fake coupon?
Cheryl says
Hey Cindy, if you click on the two links in the article above, they you can check certain coupons if you’re worried. I would stick to ordering coupons offline only from places like coupons.com, redplum.com, coupon network, smart source, and target. The problem with the most recent coupon fraud was that it WAS an actual coupon, but someone photo copied it and sold it over the internet. So stores wouldn’t take it anymore. It stinks that people do this, but such is life.
Cindy says
P.S. Tnanks for any help you might give.
Paulie says
I actually saw the J&J coupon online and printed it but somehow never got around to using thank goodness. I read on some blogs about the $3 RP Nivea coupon insert but when I got my newspapers yesterday I didn’t see it and was so disappointed.
Cheryl says
Me TOO! I was excited to post about it, but couldn’t see it so I didn’t.
Paulie says
Hmm good thing you waited!
Paulie says
You may be interested in checking out this post
http://theprudentpatron.com/2011/04/is-this-coupon-really-counterfeit-22-listerine-stayfree-zyrtec-aveeno.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ThePrudentPatron+%28The+Prudent+Patron%29
Cheryl says
Thanks for sharing that! It was a great explanation on coupon fraud and what happened with it.