Fake Retail Coupon / Promo Code Scam

Overview

Scammers post counterfeit coupons and promo codes for well-known retail brands on social media, email, and fake websites to steal personal information, payment details, or spread malware instead of delivering real discounts.

How It Works

Scammers create ads or posts — often using a brand's real logo — that advertise an unusually steep discount, such as 80% off, at a popular retail store. After clicking the coupon or promo code link, the consumer either makes a purchase on a fake storefront that never ships the item, or is sent to a third-party site that asks them to enter personal and payment information in exchange for the coupon. In many cases the victim never receives any coupon or product; in others, a fake tracking number falsely shows the package as delivered, and the company becomes unreachable or stops responding when the buyer seeks a refund. Some versions require signing up for a paid coupon service with a monthly membership fee that promises digital or paper coupons that never arrive or turn out to be fake, while other variations involve sharing a link on social media in exchange for a coupon that leads to a third-party site collecting personal information.

Red Flags

• Discount is unusually large, near or above the item's actual retail value, like 80% off
• Coupon or deal is only found through a social media ad or shared link rather than the brand's own website
• You're asked to pay a monthly membership fee or provide personal/financial information in exchange for a coupon

Real Examples

• A BBB Scam Tracker report describes a consumer who placed an order via a TikTok promo code and never received their item; a tracking number showed the package as delivered on a Sunday, but nothing arrived, and the company stopped responding to emails
• Another consumer reported ordering clothing through a Facebook discount ad and paying by credit card, but the order never arrived and the tracking information turned out not to be real

Where It Spreads

How to Protect Yourself

• Be skeptical of coupons offering steep discounts near or above an item's retail value
• Verify any coupon directly on the retailer's official website or by calling their customer service line before using it
• Never give personal or financial information to claim a coupon, and don't pay a membership fee for access to discount codes
• Hover over (don't click) links in coupon emails or texts to check where they actually lead before visiting

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