Pocono News Section

Stores On Alert For Fake Coupons

Stores On Alert For Fake Coupons - Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 5:00PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 @ 05:00pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY --A rash of counterfeit coupons has supermarkets across the country on alert. Some are changing their policies on accepting any internet coupon. Consumer reporter Jeff Chirico here with what it means next time you go shopping.

In August, computer hackers created fraudulent coupons on a popular social networking site. That spurred an internet marketing fiasco that has some stores rejecting any coupon printed from the web.

Save fifteen dollars off razors. You can get a ten dollar savings on vitamins and a free pack of gum.

Barb Roberts of Scranton says "sounds too good to be true. That's fantastic. But are they real?" Joe Fasula, owner of Gerrity’s Supermarkets says "it's totally bogus and totally counterfeit"

Last month hackers broke into a marketing application on Facebook. com and began circulating phony coupons. Cathy Powell of Moscow asks "how do you know what's counterfeit and what's not?" It's not easy. Even many registers read the bar code on them-- giving shoppers huge savings.

At Gerrity's Pantene shampoo costs $7.39. The coupon saves six bucks. A six pack of figi water is $5.69. With a coupon you should get money back. "it would probably hurt the retailers the most." Because of this mess, Fasula says his stores no longer accept any internet coupons. "We're the ones responsible for accepting coupons so if we try to send that in for reimbursement there would be no reimbursement."

"While Gerrity's and some other stores no longer accept any internet coupons, other stores have changed their policies. Some no longer accept coupons over a dollar or five dollars. Either way, consumers say it hurts the responsible coupon user."

Paul Saar of Scranton says "it ruins it for everyone." Roberts says "the prices the way they are today, coupons really help especially the dollar ones."

Fasula says the ban is only temporary. Fasula says "we're going to reevaluate but how soon we're going to change that policy I really can't say at this point." But as more folks try to save on higher food prices, experts say the demand for counterfeit coupons will only grow.

To find reputable coupon sites try, , and To check if a coupon is counterfeit go to the