Coupon Crime

[JimShaw]

I found a long article in today's newspaper regarding Coupon Crime and pulled a section of it and thought it should be posted.

This is something I did not know and have done myself especially with the Target $5.00 Off Blu coupon. That was a great coupon but I won't do that again.

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“never, never make photocopies of coupons you printed out from the Internet. This is coupon fraud. Each printable contains identifiers (typically a serial number) that make that individual coupon unique. When you photocopy a printable coupon, you're making an identical copy—and when your store redeems two or more coupons with the same serial number on them, guess what happens? The store is only reimbursed for one of the coupons. It's essentially a small form of stealing from the store.

Photocopying printable coupons is also not without its consequences. When multiples of the same printable coupons are submitted for redemption and several show up with the same serial number, that information can be sent back to the site that originally hosted the coupon. It's very easy for that site to track down both the IP and hardware address of the computer that originally printed it. With that information, that site typically permanently revokes that coupon-printing privileges for that computer. If flagrant abuse has occurred, legal prosecution can follow.

For this reason, it's also not a good idea to trade printable coupons with people you do not know well. If they decide to make photocopies of coupons you give them, guess who stands to pay the price? You.”

[My_Two_Cents]

It needs to be noted that this only applies to those "special" coupons that you need to print using coupon printing software. These are the kind that only print twice, and do contain unique serial numbers that can be tracked. Other coupons you may find online that do not have unique identifiers are perfectly okay to copy.

[DC_Street]

I didn't know they could count it as theft but I did know about the serial numbers on the coupon and that they can only be redeemed once.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by DC_Street

I didn't know they could count it as theft but I did know about the serial numbers on the coupon and that they can only be redeemed once.

Of course it's theft, they're same as cash if the store accepts them, you're essentially taking money from that store and putting it in your pocket.

[DC_Street]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

Of course it's theft, they're same as cash if the store accepts them, you're essentially taking money from that store and putting it in your pocket.

I didn't realize the store took the hit, never thought about it until now. I haven't done it but I will now tell others that I do know that do this frequently to give it up...but knowing them...they won't stop

[tlmaclennan]

For a while there were custom coupons made on 4chan that would get you a free PS3 at Toys-R-Us. It would list the PS3 for full price and then give you a full discount...they caught on quick from what I've heard.

[toef]

Originally Posted by tlmaclennan

For a while there were custom coupons made on 4chan that would get you a free PS3 at Toys-R-Us. It would list the PS3 for full price and then give you a full discount...they caught on quick from what I've heard.

Yeah, one of the downsides of the internet is the ease of access it allows for learning how to do things like that. A quick Google search can turn up a number of sources on how to make your own coupons.

Security-wise, I imagine it's a lot harder (if not impossible) to fake the serial # based coupons that are printed through the coupon software, as opposed to the more generic barcoded ones.

[Musashi]

I should also think this would be manufacturer's coupons only. Store coupons are 1 per customer, so if you want to save on multiple items, you have to bring friends with you.