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| Photo Credit: Coupon Clippin' Daddy |
The Coupon Information Center estimates that this is the largest coupon fraud case in U.S. history.
Phoenix residents Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko Fountain were arrested on July 10, 2012 on multiple charges including operating an illegal enterprise, forgery, money laundering, and counterfeiting.
Ramirez was allegedly bringing in fraudulent coupons created overseas, then selling them via her website Savvyshoppersite.com for a fraction of their face value.
Instead of selling her fake coupons to consumers, Ramirez sold to individuals who then turned around and sold the coupons on eBay.
In fact, her site required a 'referral' from a current customer before you could purchase coupons -- one significant sign of shady activity.
Ramirez allegedly had over 2 million dollars sitting in one of her seized bank accounts.
Bud Miller, executive director of the Coupon Information Center, says this record-breaking case exposes the dangers of buying coupons on the Internet.
“This case clearly demonstrates the dangers of purchasing coupons on the Internet, whether it is from independent websites, e-mail or from online auctions,” Miller said in a CIC press release.
“Coupon buyers expose themselves to the possibility of becoming involved with counterfeits, stolen property or other criminal activities. They may also expose themselves to additional risk by providing their names, home addresses and financial information to organized crime rings.”
Shoppers concerned whether coupons in their collection are legitimate or not can check the CIC list of fraudulent coupons before they go shopping.
You can watch the news report about the Phoenix coupon fraud ring bust below:
Your turn
Do you think this arrest will make it easier or more difficult to coupon going forward? Will it change how you get your coupons in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
The story is sad for couponing, and for those who honestly utilize coupons. It gives couponers a bad reputation.
ReplyDeleteOn an ironic note: The "Conartists" who ran this counterfeit coupon ring have a "WALL OF SHAME" on their website. They listed the names and addresses of people they labeled as "Bad Check Writers, Con Artists and Scammers."
Really?!
I wish some brilliant hacker could add their names to their own wall of shame.