Coupon Red Flags

Red Flag #1 User-Uploaded Coupons

While at first glance user uploaded coupons this may not seem like an issue, those coupon sites can be incredibly frustrating. Many of these sites will accept any submitted code without checking with the corresponding merchant or ensuring that the coupon even works. We know how frustrating it gets when you find a code with an excitement and place it in that "discount code" box on a check-out page and the code ends up not working. We would strongly recommend you not to waste your time on those sites. That is why we are working hard to allow savvy shoppers the ability to contact and share coupons with us. We will soon be releasing a section on the site which will make it easier for users to do so but it is important to note we are going to have strong resources behind the project to ensure quality!

At Promocodes.com we have savings experts work directly with top brands to bring you the best discounts available. In the future our internal coupon optimization team will spend time checking and validating user uploaded coupons before we put it up on the site.

Red Flag #2 Coupon Retailers that Require Payment/Personal Info

While it may be tempting to pay a few dollars in exchange for a 50% off coupon, there are a huge amount of hidden risks.

Unfortunately, there are many online retailers that sell fake coupons to get your personal information and rip-off frugal shoppers. Instead of taking these risks and throwing your money away, you can search through reputable coupon websites like Promocodes.com, where you can use all the coupons for free!

Red Flag #3 "Free" Products

If you find a retailer that asks for personal information in exchange for "free" products or coupons, be sure to avoid them at all costs. Users will often find scams like these on Facebook and Twitter, which will redirect them to an unsecure third-party site. While on this new website, users will receive instructions saying they have to register to receive their coupon code or "free" products. However, the registration process often involves revealing your address or credit card number, which is then sent to scammers. Shoppers can avoid all of this by using safe and reliable sites that offer promo codes and discounts without the hassle of registering or logging in.

Red Flag #4 Beware Fake Coupons

In the best-case scenario, a fake coupon would mean that you don't get the discount. However, in the worst-case scenario, clicking on a fake coupon from an untrustworthy website can leave your device infected with dangerous malware. This means that scammers can potentially have access to any personal or financial information that was stored on your device. Not to mention some sites publish misleading content just to make you click on a retailers site to put a tracking cookie in place on your browser to earn commission from the transaction you make. If a coupon sounds too good to be true, then check out the about us page of that coupon site as well as their privacy policy, gather information to see if that company is legit. If you are suspicious, then close that browser window and continue your research further.

To spot a fake coupon online, there are a few key things that you should look out for. First of all, if you see a coupon that does not have an expiration date or contains a date that doesn't exist you should avoid it. Forgetting to add an expiration date to a coupon is a common mistake that scammers make and is an obvious sign that the discount isn't valid. You should also be aware of more subtle signs of a scammer including poor grammar and typos. Secondly, if the coupon doesn't link back to the retailers' website (or if it directs you to a sketchy third-party website), you can rest assured that the deal isn't real. Finally, if you're unsure you can trust the coupon retailer, you can confirm their contact information and ensure that the company has a real address or phone number. You can even check up on a company through The Better Business Burea to ensure that the company isn't connected to scams.