About six months ago, Facebook shut down many Facebook coupon groups (public, private and secret) for coupon fraud and misuse.
Another wave of group closures recently took place, and it’s something I applaud. From Coupons In The News:
It was half a year ago that Facebook lowered the boom on couponers who were using the social media site to promote fraudulent couponing. About 100 “secret” and “closed” groups, that members thought were protected from the prying eyes of outsiders, suddenly disappeared.
Investigators working on behalf of the coupon industry had provided Facebook with evidence of activity that violated the site’s community standards at best – and were unethical, fraudulent or outright illegal at worst – with members openly sharing how to exploit “glitches” in higher-value coupons’ bar codes that allow them to be scanned and accepted on lower-cost items for which they’re not intended.
So without warning, in one wave after another, Facebook deleted the offending groups.
The mass deletions sent shock waves through Facebook couponing groups of all types, as everyone from coupon “glitchers” to insert sellers to ordinary everyday coupon users wondered whether their groups would be next. Six months later, that shock has largely subsided – but industry efforts to shut down the glitchers hasn’t.
Those efforts have quietly continued, little by little, since the first 100 or so groups were wiped out. In the past week alone, Facebook has deleted several more glitch groups. And investigators say they’re keeping an eye on many others, and are ready to notify Facebook – and the authorities if necessary.
“Despite the fact that this activity continues to occur in closed and secret groups, both Facebook and industry investigators are able to monitor content and intervene where necessary,” Brand Technologies president Jane Beauchamp told Coupons in the News. The investigative services firm spearheaded the initial Facebook investigation on behalf of coupon-issuing clients, and remains on the case.
“Cease and desist orders have been issued against the most egregious offenders and this will continue,” Beauchamp said. “Manufacturers and retailers have been provided sufficient detail – including pictures, descriptions and actual receipts – to pursue further legal action if they so choose.”
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