The Phoenix New Times has a new story with additional details about the coupon counterfeiting ring that was busted yesterday. One of the suspects arrested “claimed she didn’t know the operation was illegal.” From the article:
The coupon scam emerged over four years ago, as high-quality counterfeit copies of authentic manufacturer coupons began to surface across the country, according to police.
Phoenix Police arrested Marilyn Johnson, 61, Robin Ramirez, 40, and Amiko Fountain, 42, for their alleged involvement in the counterfeit coupon scam. The three suspects look like they should’ve been a part of a friendly group of coupon collectors — not a massive scam. But this was no neighborhood hobby club, police say.
The coupons were printed elsewhere, brought to Arizona, and the women would sell access to their phony coupons through the websites.
Fountain was responsible for the storage, distribution, and construction of the coupons. She admitted her role in the scheme but claimed she didn’t know the operation was illegal, records show. Police arrested Johnson for running a satellite website of Savvyshoppersite.com called Amenglishmastiffs.com.
The women presented the sites as legitimate but asked customers not to advertise the coupons, and they requested that the customers use the site only after approved referrals.
During yesterday’s press conference, the police mentioned a spinoff site selling SavvyShopperSite’s counterfeit coupons too, which was now named in this story as Amenglishmastiffs.com.
If you read the disclaimers on Amenglishmastiffs.com, it’s simply stunning. Note how the author slams the fake coupons on Ebay and advises using these coupons at “smaller chain and independent stores.”
I caution you to protect this information and only share with trusted and honest people who will not abuse or misuse these items. Please do not share this information with people that you don’t actually know. This includes forums and any public viewing areas or websites.
All of these coupons are original and have been obtained directly from each respective manufacturer.
When dealing with coupons, it is useful to know there are crooks making fakes of almost all coupons. The biggest culprit of spreading fakes is eBay.
If too many fakes begin to circulate, the manufacturer alerts the stores and tells them they are all fakes. They can’t expect the stores to know what is real or not, so they tell them not to take any. This seems to occur mostly at the “big-box stores” like Walmart, PetSmart and PetCo, so they are on more often on high alert. Smaller chain and independent stores seem to take the coupons with no problem.
If you are ever told your coupons are fakes, be prepared to stand your ground. Tell the store personnel your coupons come directly from the manufacturer, and are 100% legitimate. Never let them intimidate or harass you, or take your coupons from you. They have no right and are probably on a little power trip of their own.
VJB says
Can’t wait to see what else comes of this bust!
What I find funny is that we were all expecting the buyers to use the “I didn’t know!!!” excuse, but I never dreamed the counterfeitors would use that excuse!!! She admitted being responsible for the construction of the coupons. Coupons are a form of tender but you thought since it is distributed by P&G and not uncle sam that you weren’t doing anything illegal!
Atleast there are now 2 sites down!!!
mrn1 says
I looked at the Savvyshoppersite last night and just reading it, to me, it was obvious the coupons were not legit. She even had the “Wall of Shame” at the bottom with peoples names listed. Now I read the Amenglishmastiff site and see this lady’s statements. It just makes me sick. There are still multiple free product coupons listed on ebay. Not all of them can be real. Why does ebay allow the continued sales of coupons? My husband asked why in the world they had that many weapons. Was it a collection or was it to protect their $25million in fake coupons they were sitting on? This whole thing is crazy! How much more can manufacturers and stores take? All this is hurting those of us trying to do things honestly for our families and those in need. I sure hope these people don’t get off on this. I am all for the justice system and innocent until proven guilty, but I say GUILTY already on this one.
4boyshunting89 says
When anyone prefaces an interaction with “Don’t tell anyone..it will just be our little secret…” do other people’s “Inner Jiminy Crickets” start screaming?!
“I caution you to protect this information and only share with trusted and honest people who will not abuse or misuse these items. Please do not share this information with people that you don’t actually know. This includes forums and any public viewing areas or websites…”
YIKES!!!
Coupon Maven says
This one is from the Statesman Journal. Some excerpts:
Most manufacturers state that they do not reimburse stores for counterfeit coupons, but this story notes that manufacturers were reimbursing the stores here. I wonder if because the quality of the counterfeits was so good, many of them slipped through? When Chris Duff’s fake Free Tide coupons surfaced on “Extreme Couponing” with no holograms, the P&G rep promptly issued a statement that they would not be reimbursed. But for companies not using a hologram..? It makes me wonder if some of these copies of legitimate coupon offers were of such “good” quality that even the manufacturers didn’t know.