I am no longer mad at the coupon lady I got stuck behind at Walmart the other day, because at least she was using legal coupons (I think).
Wait, is there a such thing as an illegal coupon?
Glad you asked:
Yes, this is an illegal coupon ring.
They dabble in counterfeit coupons.
This story is out of Houston, but the fraud stretches across 23 states, and includes 87 individuals. Three people have already been arrested in Texas.
And check this out:
Officials said preliminary results from a clearinghouse that processes valid coupons for retailers have documented more than $9.7 million dollars in losses and project there could be another $10 million in losses as the investigation continues.
9.7 MILLION DOLLARS AND COUNTING!
THAT'S NUTS!!!!
And these folks are actually pretty sophisticated:
The coupons' manipulation was on paper versions of the coupons, involving printers like the ones used by retailers. The criminals would then print up coupons in a "sweatshop"-style setting and people would call up, saying what kind of coupons they would need and they would be manipulated and printed, authorities said. Clerks would use the coupon and the coupon would ring up as something totally different, but the photo on the coupon would be of the product, such as diapers or cleaning liquids, and the coupon would be accepted.
Dude, they were using the same kind of printers that the manufacturers use. And the coupons were made in a sweatshop?!?!?!
They even had a website!
I'm literally cracking up.
Like, this can't be real.
But it is…
The bright side of this story is that the stolen property seized from these thieves is going to the less fortunate. (Yes, many of these thieves had to use coupons to buy things, so then they had to sell them on Craigslist, etc; so there's lots of random dish soap, toothpaste, razors, and other things sitting around waiting to be sold. Again, very sophisticated.)
Authorities said they seized a truckload with 4,000 items and shut down the website that had been operating. The seized items -- including toiletries, cleaning products and toys -- will be donated to local charities that help children, trafficked children, domestic violence victims and the homeless.
So that's nice.
But I'm still over here laughing out loud because of the term "illegal coupon ring."
