A fake coupon that has been making the rounds on Facebook is still convincing even the most savvy shoppers that it's real. The coupon, which claims a value of $75, looks just like the legitimate coupons shoppers receive.
"You can fall for it, definitely," said Veronica Lora of Naples. "I get coupons all the time, and they look just like that."
Shopper Tina Liquori-Cody agrees: "$75 is a lot, but I can see where someone would try and use that," she said.
Sgt. Brian Sawyer with the Fraud Division of the Collier County Sheriff's Office said that while it's tough to understand why someone created the phony coupon, it shows how easy it is to do with today's technology.
"It could be a prank, which in that case is detrimental to both Bed Bath and Beyond, and whichever customers are trying to use it," Sawyer said
Bed Bath and Beyond posted a message on Facebook addressing the fake coupon: "We are sorry for any confusion and disappointment this fake coupon has caused. We are partnering with Facebook to have these coupons removed. Thank you for your understanding."
Sawyer said that some simple research about a deal that looks too good to be true can save a lot of headache.
"Don't contact the number or the web site that's affiliated with that specific advertisement," Sawyer said. "Figure out who the main company is...and contact that legitimate number.
The Better Business Bureau recommends doing a web search to see if the coupon or any other potential scam already has an alert about it online.
