From WMBF NBC:
A Georgia man has been charged with five counts of felony forgery.
Marvin Hallock got the idea for counterfeiting coupons from another inmate while he was in prison. Investigators say when he got out, an inmate sold him a computer disk to make phony coupons, and he went into business.
Dougherty County Police Detective Chad Kirkpatrick said “This is a Maxwell House Coffee for nine dollars off. You can get it at Walmart for $8.98.”
Kirkpatrick said “When we caught him he had approximately 180 total coupons from I believe 33 different vendors, different companies.” And they found many more coupons at his home, and they are all counterfeit. Police say he was making them.
Kirkpatrick said “Purina Dog Food. They are around $7 and some change. It’s $8 off.”
Occasionally when I write on the topic of counterfeit coupons, I will receive a few emails from people wondering why I would advise against purchasing coupons online. One recent email said “I buy free coupons all the time on line, they work and they are cheap!” I replied that just because a store accepts them, it does not mean they’re legitimate, and the inevitable reply… “The seller promised me they are real.” (Well, a coupon reseller who’s making money selling you sheets of paper will likely tell you anything you want to hear.)
I would guess, though, that the people buying coupons online haven’t given much thought to who they might be purchasing these free and high-value coupons from. If the coupons you purchase online originated within a prison-inmate counterfeit coupon ring, a former inmate could have your name, home address, and payment information.
Watch the video report below:
Flag1 says
Looks like we finally have someone being arrested for selling counterfeit coupons. Bravo for their police department. My Wal-Mart has become very leary of coupons recently (not previous) due to some counterfeit coupons they were stuck with. If the coupon doesn’t scan a CSM is brought over and we go with what she says. I can’t blame them. Maybe this will help people understand that you just don’t know what you are buying and who from. Can only hope; you keep trying to warn them. Thank you for an excellent article.
SouthernReverie says
Jill, some people will justify whatever they want to do by pleading ignorance. At least, maybe the last sentence of your post will get these people’s attention.
I am not from your area, but I visit your website often because I love the articles you post about couponing and marketing. I especially love your ethical approach to couponing.
Thanks for speaking up for honesty!