Counterfeit coupon story reaches national news

ABC News has a story about the Phoenix counterfeit coupon ring today with some additional information about the case:

In the past four years, manufacturers became aware that copies of their coupons were being produced. They asked for the help of private investigators and the Coupon Information Corp. to find the source of the copies.

The investigation led them to Phoenix, where the properties of Robin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain, and Marilyn Johnson were raided Tuesday.

Investigators found $25 million in forged coupons in those raids. “That’s $25 million worth of counterfeit just sitting around their daily operations on a random day. You have to wonder how much money passed through their business,” said Bud Miller, executive director of Coupon Information Corp.

Police learned that Ramirez, who they consider the ringleader, had been mailing valid coupons to an international source that counterfeited mass quantities of them. The forged coupons were primarily sold on Ebay and her website, savvyshoppersite.com.

Miller echoed how enormous this scam was. “Make no mistake, this was run as a business. These were not amateurs.”

Read the entire story at ABCnews.com

Previous articles about the Phoenix coupon counterfeiting ring:

• Police, other officials involved in coupon counterfeit case: ‘Operation Super Coupon’
• Arizona TV news reports regarding enormous counterfeit coupon bust
• SavvyShopperSite.com: Coupon counterfeiters arrested; sold free-product coupons online and on Ebay
• More details emerge about Phoenix coupon counterfeiting operation
• Phoenix coupon counterfeiters: For an extra $3, you can have a hologram on your coupon!
• Woman says she “saved hundreds” with counterfeit coupons
• Photo galleries of seized counterfeit coupons
• Photos of Phoenix counterfeit coupon bust
• Coupon counterfeiters’ families: “They’re innocent.”
• Full video of Phoenix counterfeit coupon bust press conference