Medium riskOnline Shopping

Fake Coupon Scam

This scam uses fake discount codes, 'spin to win' wheels, or coupon sites that look like a deal but exist to collect your personal and card details, push survey traps, or spread links across social media.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Coupon and discount scam
Main red flag
A coupon or prize page that asks for card details, a fee, or that you forward a link to friends.
What to do first
Do not enter card details or share the link. Check offers on the retailer's official website instead.

What to know first

This scam uses fake discount codes, 'spin to win' wheels, or coupon sites that look like a deal but exist to collect your personal and card details, push survey traps, or spread links across social media.

Online shopping scams use fake stores, unbelievable deals, and counterfeit or never-delivered goods to take your money and card details. Fake sites often surface through ads and social media and pressure you with limited-time offers.

The core pattern to watch for is clear: A coupon or prize page that asks for card details, a fee, or that you forward a link to friends. Do not enter card details or share the link. Check offers on the retailer's official website instead.

Related tricks worth knowing: the Fake Giveaway Scam and the Social Media Shopping Ad Scam. For the wider picture, browse the Online Shopping Scams guides or run the message through our scam checker.

Scam statistics

Top category
online shopping is one of the most-reported fraud categories to the FTC
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
$1.4B
reported lost to fraud that started on social media in 2023, where many fake shops advertise
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

Tell-tale red flags

  • A coupon or prize that seems far too generous for the effort involved
  • A countdown timer pressuring you to act within minutes
  • A request for card details to claim a 'free' coupon or voucher
  • Being asked to share the link with friends or in group chats to unlock the reward
  • A web address that does not match the real retailer's official domain

Staying safe

  • Check the offer directly on the retailer's official website or app
  • Close the page rather than completing any survey or form
  • Search the brand name with the word 'coupon scam' to see if others reported it
  • Use a browser with up-to-date security settings and pop-up blocking

How it usually reads

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Congratulations! You have won a $500 store voucher. Spin the wheel and enter your card details to claim it before it expires in 9:58: [suspicious link]'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

What to notice: A coupon or prize page that asks for card details, a fee, or that you forward a link to friends.

Steps if you already acted

  • If you entered card details, contact your bank to flag or freeze the card
  • Change the password for any account where you reused that login
  • Run a security scan if you downloaded anything from the page
  • Watch your statements and any linked accounts for unexpected charges

Common mistakes

  • Do not enter card or banking details to claim a coupon
  • Do not forward the link to friends or post it on social media
  • Do not complete survey pages that ask for personal information

Scams like this one

Medium risk Social Media

Fake Giveaway Scam

This scam tells you that you won a prize or giveaway, then asks for a fee, your login, or personal details to 'claim' it.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Online Shopping

Social Media Shopping Ad Scam

This scam uses eye-catching, heavily discounted product ads in social media feeds to lure you to fake or dishonest online stores that take your payment and deliver nothing, or send a cheap counterfeit instead.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Online Shopping

Fake Online Store Scam

This scam sets up a convincing but fake store with very low prices, takes payment, and delivers nothing, a counterfeit, or a cheap substitute.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Your questions answered

Why would a coupon page ask for my card details?
A genuine discount code does not need your card to exist. A coupon page asking for card details is a common scam pattern designed to capture your information or sign you up for charges.
Are 'spin to win' wheels ever real?
Some legitimate retailers run promotions, but scammers copy the look to harvest data. If the page asks for payment, personal details, or that you share a link, treat it with caution.
I shared the link before realising. What now?
Let the people you sent it to know it may be a scam so they do not enter their details, and consider posting a quick correction if you shared it publicly.
How can I find genuine discount codes safely?
Look on the retailer's own website, their official email newsletters, or well-known voucher sites, and avoid pages that demand card details or personal data to reveal a code.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.