Beware Of Scammers Hawking Online Coupons

WALLINGFORD — One of the great gifts from merchants to consumers is the online coupon. Shoppers can save hundreds of dollars a year by redeeming coupons and the savings are attracting consumers to stores they never considered visiting.

Unfortunately, scammers see the world of online coupons as an opportunity to cheat consumers.

In complaints to the Better Business Bureau, consumers allege some coupons do not work or their terms are not honored, while others say they paid for coupons with the belief they were getting a bargain when, in fact, they received nothing in return.

Perhaps the worst offenders are sites with pop-up ads that encourage visitors to click on them, automatically signing them up for a service with a repeating, monthly fee on their credit card.

One site offered a $90 gift card for a well-known international fast food restaurant. The truth is, the company had nothing to do with the coupon.

Even worse, while visitors browsed the site, it installed malicious software, including viruses to obtain personal information from the users’ computers.

According to Connecticut Better Business Bureau President, Paulette Scarpetti, consumers should be wary of coupon sites that request personal information.

“Any time you give out your name, address, or telephone number on a site you don’t know, there is a chance that your information may be misused or sold,” she said.

While there are well-known websites that specialize in a wide array of coupons, some of the most trustworthy coupons come from retailers’ own sites, as opposed to third-party sites.

Connecticut Better Business Bureau offers some tips for using online coupons:

*You should never pay for a coupon.

*Steer clear of sites that ask for your name, address, or account numbers.

*Be cautious of pop-up ads that offer a trial membership.

*Check with the retailer if you suspect a coupon is fake or if you have difficulty redeeming it.

You will find more information on making informed buying decisions at http://ct.bbb.org/Consumer-Tips/.