The Truth about Internet Coupons

The promise of online coupons is everywhere—e-mails, newsletters, websites. Unfortunately, counterfeit and fraudulent coupons appear very frequently too; so often that many stores had stopped accepting many kinds of internet-based coupons altogether. Here are some tips that will help savvy coupon users spot a fake print-at-home coupon:

• No (or little) redemption data, missing bar code or expiration date. All print-at-home coupons will have the “small print” items that you normally see on a traditional coupon that you might get out of the newspaper. If your internet coupon doesn't have this information, it might very well be fraudulent.
• Require payment? You should never buy coupons over the Internet; please see the trading/selling section below for more details.
• Too easy to get? If you find that you are able to access coupons “too easily,” there is a much greater chance that they are fake. Many legitimate internet-based coupon services require registration or subscription in order to access their services; keep that in mind the next time you just stumble onto the world's greatest coupon offer. Consider the source before you print it out.
• Too good to be true? Print-at-home coupons are not likely to offer savings all that much different from what you would find in your local newspaper or receive in the mail. While they are more convenient, and potentially more customized to your tastes, exorbitant coupon offers (e.g. FREE, other high dollar coupons) are less likely to be legitimate.