Your Guide to Finding a Scam-Free Online Deal

It can be very exciting to find an awesome online deal in your area, like the ones offered by Dollars & Sense, but that joy can quickly turn to disappointment if you’ve come across a scam coupon. While you can trust that Dollars & Sense only offers legitimate coupons, the same cannot be said for every online coupon site. Here’s a few tips for spotting the frauds:

If a coupon requires that you pay in order to open or download it, it’s almost certainly a scam. This is a common practice on auction sites. Sellers will offer amazing coupons for a price, but what consumers don’t realize is that the same coupons can often be found online for free! Before you start typing in your credit card number, check on the retailer’s site for special offers.

Does your coupon seem too good to be true? It probably is. Recently, there’s been a string of coupons from various retailers offering insane offers, like $200 worth of free groceries or a free $150 gift card with a purchase. Offering deals like that have no benefit to the retailer, plain and simple. Most coupons exist because a business is trying to attract customers and increase their sales. Offering ridiculous amounts of free money for a purchase simply doesn’t add up.

Finally, check your expiration dates and grammar. Oftentimes, scamming coupons have no expiration or offer a date that doesn’t actually exist, like February 30. Carefully read the fine print to assure that everything is in working order. While you’re at it, use your grammar skills to evaluate the writing. Are their typos or easily-fixed mistakes? It’s unlikely that your coupon is legitimate. While it can be disappointing that you’re not saving money now, you’ll be glad to know that your credit card information is safe from scammy sites.

The Twin Cities’ Dollars & Sense offers you premium coupons for your area, without the risk of being caught unaware by online deal scams. Our mailer reaches over 1 million families and it could reach yours too! Sign up with us today to get in on these deals!