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Cashier's Corner
 WHAT
TO DO ABOUT COUNTERFEIT COUPONS?
The Problem: Counterfeit Coupons are a major challenge for
the industry. Simply put, counterfeits are fake coupons. The quality of counterfeits varies
widely, from obvious fakes to some with very skilled printing. Most fakes currently in circulation
are for free products or high values and are produced on home/office equipment. A widely
distributed counterfeit coupon can cause losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more)
and can strip your shelves of product , preventing honest consumers from purchasing the product.
Manufacturers, retailers, coupon processors, and law enforcement agencies are all active
in the fight against counterfeit coupons. However, while you have the support of literally
thousands of people throughout the industry, as a cashier, you play a critical role in this
fight. Indeed, you play many roles:
- Diplomat. Customer Service is your #1 responsibility. Never embarrass
or get into a confrontation with a guest at your store.
- Reporter. Gather the facts, the evidence, especially the possible
counterfeits, and report the information to your management.
- Responsible Citizen. Counterfeit coupons hurt everyone, including
your community, your store, the manufacturers, honest consumers, your friends and neighbors.
Please keep a sharp eye out for them.
Simply put, if a counterfeit is accepted at the point of sale, someone is going to pay for
it-- your store, the manufacturer or maybe even you if you’re also the store owner. Regardless
of who pays, it is a dead loss.
Here are a few tips to help you fight counterfeit coupons:
- Visit our web site's counterfeit
coupon section for the latest updates on counterfeit coupons
being circulated. We often offer rewards for information leading to the arrest
of coupon counterfeiters. (The person actually making the counterfeit coupons,
not just someone who, perhaps unwittingly, uses one.) Not only can you be a hero
at your store, you could earn a reward of up to $2,500 under certain circumstances.
(The terms of reward offers are posted with respect to specific counterfeits from
time to time.)
- Pay special attention to "Free Product" or high value
($5.00 and up) coupons:
- Many Free and High Value Coupons have the CIC Security Device (similar to a hologram)
over the expiration date. See this link for
a demonstration.
- There are few, if any, legitimate free product coupons that can be printed on home
equipment.
- Monitor the self-scans closely.
- Some questions you may wish to consider:
- Is this person buying an unusually large amount of the same product with “Free” Coupons?
- Is it reasonable that even a very, very large family could use all of this product?
- Is this person one of your regular customers?
- Is this person attempting to distract you?
- Is the person overly defensive when you ask where he/she got the coupons?
- Does this person appear unusually nervous?
- Think you have a counterfeit coupon?
- What if you’re NOT 100% sure it’s a counterfeit?
- Give the consumer the benefit of the doubt and accept the coupon.
- Contact your manager or loss prevention/security department and review the
situation.
- Please report new counterfeits to the Coupon Information Center.
- What if you are 100% sure it is a counterfeit.
- Follow the procedure established by your store.
If you store does not have an established procedure, this may
be a good time to meet with your managers and ask them to create a procedure.
They may wish to consider the following options:
- Contact your manager or loss prevention/security department.
- Do not confront the individual! Your safety is more important.
- If possible (and safe), get a copy of the person’s identification. Note
that counterfeiters have been known to use store discount cards with false
or stolen information.
- If possible, have a security guard note the person’s license plate.
- After the transaction, take a break and write down the date and the exact
time of the transaction. Include a physical description of the individual(s)
and be sure to save the suspected counterfeits. Do your best to handle the “coupons” on
the edges to preserve the suspect’s fingerprints. Be sure to alert the person
monitoring your security cameras to save the appropriate footage.
- Never accuse anyone of anything! It could be embarrassing
(and expensive) if you make a mistake. Instead, have your loss prevention/security
department or local law enforcement agency handle it.
- Contact the Coupon Information Center at (703) 684-5307 if
you have questions or need additional information.
- Potential Penalties
Counterfeit Coupons – penalties range from misdemeanors to felonies. The charges vary
by the situation.
A final word
Thank you! We greatly appreciate you keeping an eye out for counterfeit coupons.
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