RALEIGH-- With a recent increase in online coupons that are being distributed through social media, the Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina (BBB) wants to make sure consumers know coupons they click on are real, and not scams. They say fake coupon scams are making a comeback in a very big way and are making the rounds on Facebook in particular.
Mallory Wojciechowski, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Eastern N.C., says some coupon scams are ways for sites to generate extra hits online. But quite often she says their goal is much more malicious. She says they often gain to steal personal information and your money.
Some of the most recent and frequently shared coupons are 50 percent off at Target, $50 off your Lowes hardware purchase, $100 off at Aldi and $75 off at Bed, Bath and Beyond.
The BBB offers the following tips to help identify coupon scams:
Be skeptical. The better the deal looks, the more likely it is fake. It’s easy for scammers to steal colors, logos and headers of established businesses to create phony coupons. If you are unsure if a coupon is phony, BBB recommends visiting the company’s website to look for the coupon or contacting the company directly.
Look at the expiration date. Most coupons have one. The absence of one is an indication that the coupon may be phony. Remember that coupons for free items usually expire quicker than others.
Verify the source. If a coupon comes to you in an email, hover your mouse over the link (without clicking) and the URL destination address should appear. If that address looks like a random assortment of number and letters, don’t click on it. Remember that there should be an “s” after “http” in the URL to indicate it’s a secure site. No “s” may mean it’s a phishing attempt to get your information or to install malware on your computer.
They also say the Coupon Information Corporation is a great resource for coupon scams. They have created a long list of fake online coupons to watch out for. They urge everyone to be wary of sharing coupons on social media, as that creates a snowball effect. They say to view any coupon or special offer on social media with skepticism, especially if it seems too good to be true.