While the advance of the technological age offers a varied range of benefits for everyday life, there are also daily risks that people must be wary of.
Devices enrich our lives. We search maps of new cities, research restaurants for dinner, buy new toys for kids, or plan an entire vacation, all from our phones or tablets. We also discover handy deals on everyday shopping with online coupons, although these simple penny-savers can be a target of common online scams without a few Internet safety tips.
Prevent scammers from taking advantage of you through too good to be true deals. Avoid online coupon scams with this helpful checklist.
What Are Online Coupons?
Digital or online coupons work the same way as traditional paper coupons. Offering a deal on a product or service, they have a useable barcode or promo code applied at checkout, and the consumer walks away, satisfied with the savings on their purchase.
In the online version, a customer navigates a website to select products or services for their Cart, the equivalent of a physical basket or buggy. After finishing their shop, they enter payment information, where a physical cashier would receive cash or a card. Many online retailers have a box for inserting coupon codes. The code could come from the pop-up on a website, a marketing email, found through a search engine or shared by a friend. Entering the code with the pertinent payment information applies any discount, and the customer gets to patiently and happily await their purchase, satisfied at finding a great bargain.
Sometimes, however, a customer has incidentally given their personal information to a scammer along the way. Continue below to learn to identify and avoid coupon scams.
How Coupon Scams Work
Sometimes, people obtain online coupons via specific sites specialising in coupon codes. Some of these sites ask for contact information before allowing someone to have a code. Hopeful consumers enter requested info —typically their name, email address, and phone number— click Submit and wait for the promised, innocent coupon to appear in their email inbox.
The website may redirect to a promotion page for an unrelated, possibly untrustworthy item, from dog food to musical instruments to personal financing loans. Some websites offer an actual coupon to print, but it is fake, meaning no one determines this until it is rejected.
Either way, personal information is sold to a third party, and the consumer receives spam phone calls, text messages, and emails to the previously provided contact information.
How to Avoid Coupon Scam
Educate yourself to identify a legitimate online coupon from an unfortunately common online scam. It is easy for scammers to copy a business’ logo, so a consumer needs to look a little closer.
First, never pay for coupons. A free deal means it does not cost a person money.
Second, be wary of high-value offers. As they say, if something is too good to be true, it is.
Third, check for legal language, expiration dates, and other fine print. Online coupons, like physical ones, need to match manufacturer requirements.
Fourth, consider the source. A legitimate coupon comes from a company’s official social media, email mailing, or website.
Fifth, if it is the only website that offers such a great deal, it should be regarded with caution. If other sites for online coupons show the offer of 10% off, the website showing 50% off is likely a scam.
Last, do not enter personal information after being given a coupon. Do not give a name, address, contact info, or credit card number. Collecting personal information is not a necessary step with a legitimate coupon.
While it may seem harmless to accidentally accept a fake coupon, scammers may steal personal information —a route that may lead to identity theft or credit card fraud— or infect a computer with a virus.
As a bonus tip, never download anything to gain a coupon. It is likely a virus.
And if unsure, do not proceed. Savings a few dollars is not worth the risk.
Protect Yourself From Common Online Scams
When it comes to Internet safety tips, there are several essential and easy-to-follow steps to ensure every customer stays safe and protected.
Trust your instincts. If feeling pressured, uncomfortable, or merely off, don’t do it.
Shop from home. Use the family computer or a personal device on a secure network.
Know the merchant. Confirm a physical address, read their Terms and Conditions, Return and Refund policies, and all available fine print.
Pay safely. Paying online with a credit card ensures protection under the law in case of future disputes. Some web browsers offer indicators to show if a website is encrypted.
Protect yourself from common online scammers who offer savings but deliver spam and scams. Be savvy and smart with this handy guide of Internet safety tips, learn how to avoid coupon scams, and prevent online coupons from being more than they should be—a bonus.
