Here’s another counterfeit coupon case that has been building since last year. A 22-year-old college student wrote an ebook called “How To Make Coupons,” which included detailed instructions on how to create barcodes that would scan and work, as well as offering advice on what kinds of coupons to make, how to design them, and how to use them at checkout to encourage the cashier to accept them. He posted the free ebook online, opening the door to thousands of dollars worth of counterfeits entering the market. Anyone who read the manual and followed his instructions could create realistic counterfeits. Procter & Gamble noted that over $200,000 worth of fake Tide coupons were created with the methods detailed in the manual.
Known as “Coupon Guy,” Lucas Henderson was named in a federal complaint back in May 2011. Today, he pled guilty to trafficking in counterfeit goods and wire fraud, and he faces three years in prison. From the New York Daily News:
A coupon counterfeiter clipped last year by the FBI for fraud pleaded guilty Wednesday to a huge online scam that offered shoppers phony deals on Sony PlayStations, Magic Hat beer and Campbell’s Soup.
Lucas Henderson was a 22-year-old computer security student at Rochester Institute of Technology when he was busted by the feds last May. He copped Wednesday to wire fraud and trafficking in counterfeit goods in Manhattan Federal Court…
The computer whiz, who now works in a McDonald’s and no longer attends RIT, was charged with creating hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of fake online coupons for consumer and electronic goods.
UPDATE: A news release from the U.S. State’s Attorney of New York notes that Coupon Guy’s sentence is actually 30 years, not three as previously reported. He will be sentenced on November 30, 2012.
You can read the original complaint against Coupon Guy at The Smoking Gun. (The image of the cover of Coupon Guy’s book is also from The Smoking Gun.)
Note that I am not aware of any ties between Coupon Guy’s case and the Phoenix counterfeiting case already in the media.
hwendt12 says
Only 3 YEARS for that!!?? I hope he also has to pay-back the companies that lost all of the money because of him! I’m also sure that McDonalds would LOVE to know that they have a THIEF working within the company. WOW-what would posess someone to be so deceitful??
Flag1 says
What is the world coming to!
dolrskolr says
How to make a bomb, how to build a silencer, how to become a successful anorexic, how to forge ss cards and drivers licenses and on and on. These are far worse how-to’s IMO. Yeah, I’ve heard how coupons fund terrorism.
Kid was stupid in not just believing in his product but to actually create and distribute. He tested his product and realized it passed muster. A heady and successful experience because it worked … too well and too often it seems. Didn’t think thru his long term business plan :D
Anyway, if he doesn’t get prison time, someone needs to hire this kid. If prison, he can rebound with speaking engagements, guest spots and training seminars when he gets out. Of course, this isn’t a new concept … lots of white collar criminals have enjoyed successful lives after prison.
Dumb kid. Criminally dumb.
A thought to chew on: Some might say the price of Tide is criminal.
Charlie Q says
should have printed up a few “Get out of jail free” cards.