Thursday, November 3, 2011

With the use of coupons on the rise…So has the use of  Counterfeit coupons!  We must be very careful to avoid using Counterfeit coupons. Counterfeit coupons can be coupons emailed to you from a friend.  Coupons that are copied or altered are also fraudulent.  (This includes making copies of internet printable coupons.)  Stores DO NOT get paid for Counterfeit coupons!!  Most of us would never dream of walking into a grocery store and putting our hand in the register and taking money.  Using a fraudulent coupon is no different.  Either way you are stealing! Would you know a fraudulent coupon if you saw it?  Some are very hard to spot!  Here are a few good ways to spot a fake.

(1) Printable coupons for FREE items are a big red flag!  Most companies have completely done away with making FREE coupons printable!  Most of them will mail you these types of coupons.

(2) Is the coupon for an unreasonable amount?   If a coupon is for a very high dollar amount that would end up making the item FREE or overage, then it a possible fake.  My best advice is double-check this coupon before using it.

(3) How did you acquire the coupon?  Most counterfeit coupons are circulated through emails and are in a PDF file.  (Not all PDF coupons are fakes.)  If you get a file in an email and it has multiple copies of the same coupon on one sheet, there is a very high possibility that they are fakes.

(4) Does it have an expiration date?  A lot of fraudulent coupons have no expiration date or an outrageous expiration date.

(5) If t sounds too good to be true….well, there is a good possibility that it is a fake!

****If there is a question about a coupon, check it out at the Coupon Information Corporation.  They keep an updated list on their website of fraudulent coupons.

Ways to avoid using a Fraudulent coupon

(1)  Print coupons from legitimate coupon websites, Coupons.com, Redplum.com, Smartsource.com, CouponNetwork, and others we post on our website.

(2) NEVER make copies of internet printable coupons!! Stores DO NOT get paid for copies.

(3) When in doubt…Leave it out.. OR.. Double check it at the CIC!

A few counterfeits that were recently brought to my attention.

At www.theqtippingmom.com we take this issue very serious.  We are constantly checking the CIC for fraudulent coupons.  You can trust our website posts and our recommended sites to be legitimate.

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Do you see Recyclebank on our matchups all the time & have no idea what it is?  Recyclebank is a valuable resource for any couponer to take advantage of, not only for the great coupons & gift cards, but because you are taking small steps to help the world get a little greener!  Pledge to be green and earn points.  Some points are earned by simply watching a video or referring a friend.  Others require a little more, but the points you earn are also greater!  If you haven’t signed up, go HERE and sign up today!  Below is my receipt for the points I cashed in today on coupons & a $10 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

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