Printable coupons will be in heavier circulation as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the holiday shopping season draws near. As a result many retail stores will have to watch out for fraud, says syndicated columnist Jill Cataldo on the LaCrosseTribune.com.
Cataldo advises readers to never make photocopies of printable coupons. "Photocopying printable coupons is...not without consequences. When multiples of the same printable coupon are submitted for redemption and several show up with the same serial number, that information can be sent back to the site that originally hosted the coupon. It's very easy for the site to track down both the IP and hardware addresses of the computer that originally printed it," Cataldo said, noting that many shoppers are unaware that printable coupon photocopying is fraud.
Cataldo also advises against sharing printable coupons with friends or family members. "If they decide to make photocopies of coupons you give them, guess who stands to pay the price? You."
While Cataldo admitted that a first offense will generally not result in criminal prosecution, it could get you permanently banned from receiving printable coupons for that store. As advancements in technology are made, it will become easier for stores to take action against unsuspecting offenders.
