Bogus Coupon Scam

Beware the online coupons that redirect you to a fake website.

Who Is It Targeting: Social media users

What Is It: A fake coupon that redirects to a different website

What Are They After: Scams that circulate on social media are nothing new. Surveys that promise $100 gift cards, flashing ads that promote unbelievable “act now” deals and other enticing offers are a great way to fill your email inbox with spam and possibly infect your computer with a virus.

A new coupon making the rounds from discount clothing store Ross offers you $100 off your total purchase—a too good to be true deal, of course—but a closer look at the website shows it isn’t for the company at all, but for a fake website masquerading as Ross.

How Can You Avoid It:

• Avoid the temptation to click on “too good to be true” offers.
• Thoroughly investigate the sale or deal before participating.
• Remember, companies aren’t going to give millions of social media users gift cards or tremendous discounts just for clicking.

If you think you may be a victim of identity theft, contact the Identity Theft Resource Center for toll-free, no-cost assistance at (888) 400-5530. Find more information about current scams and alerts here. For full details of this scam check out this article from KOMONews.com.