ALERT: $2/2 Johnson & Johnson Counterfeit Coupon
First off, I am literally sick to my stomach. Just a little bit ago, I received an email from an awesome reader, Kristen, who alerted me to the fact that the $2/2 Johnson & Johnson coupon pictured above is counterfeit. This coupon actually had bricks.com in the URL and appeared to me to be 100% legitimate; and as a result, I have referenced the coupon on Hip2Save several times in the past few weeks and have printed it myself. The Coupon Information Corporation (CIC) just added this coupon to its list of counterfeit coupons as of yesterday, April 15th.
Now that you are likely sick to your stomach as well, you are probably wondering what you should do if you already unintentionally used this coupon at a store and/or have this coupon in your possession?! First and foremost, you want to immediately destroy any of these coupons that you may have. If you used the coupons to purchase items that are still in un-opened packages, I highly encourage you to take the items back to your store and return them immediately. (Please note that I mean that you should return the items and only be reimbursed for the purchase price minus the coupon amount so in some cases you may not be reimbursed at all if the item was free after the coupon). Stores that accepted these coupons will NOT be reimbursed by the manufacturer so by returning the items that you purchased with this coupon, you are preventing the store from losing money. If you have already opened/used the items purchased with this coupon, I am honestly not sure what to advise you to do; however, I would encourage you to contact your local store manager and ask him/her what is recommended in this situation.
From the bottom of my heart, I am so sorry. I spend countless hours researching deals and evaluating coupons to ensure that all deals on Hip2Save are 100% legitimate. I value all of your trust and am still in shock that this was a fake coupon.
Please feel free to share your thoughts below….
Acme market email send me this coupon 2 weeks ago and I printed it. so why? but I did’t use it.
I went back to Walmart where I purchased 4 boxes of bandaids and saved $4 with the coupons (I used 2 coupons for $2). I spoke with a manager who told me not to worry about it. However, I didn’t feel good about the situation. She ended up taking the $4 and writing it down on a log that they keep in the cash office.
Maybe I shouldn’t have been so quick to react, but my integrity is worth a lot more than $4.
Your integrity is CERTAINLY worth more than 4 dollars. Good for you. Others will not be so honest. And no worries to hip2save. Mistakes happen. At least you are being honorable about it. More than I can say for some other couponers. Good on you!
I second that! Collin, I hope & pray that everyone can have your outlook on things like this as well as your integrity…that is why I go to your blog 99% of the time b/c I know what kind of person you are & how your intentions for all of us are always good! 😉 Love you!
This truly is from bricks.com and therefore cannot be considered “counterfeit.” That’s like the Federal Reserve printing cash and then after some kind of clerical error declaring that it’s counterfeit. It’s just some sort of mistake; no one should feel bad.
I’m thinking the same thing. I only print from RedPlum and Coupons.com directly. How could my coupon have been a counterfeit? Most likely, we all used legit coupons and someone somewhere used those to create a fake.
I totally agree with you both. Especially the coupons from Bricks add, who will be able to tell that it is fake. Also, in my opinion I think it’s almost impossible unless someone hacked the system and I doubt that.
I think your right! I looked at mine, and it DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME BORDER around the coupon (view at 200% or 300%). Mine doesn’t state ” on any two Listerine Anitseptic…but the one this CIC link does. The border on mine is a series of numbers like on all the rest rest of my bricks coupons, zip code; time & date and the same old stuff–nothing about one of the brand names.
Regardless whether mine is conterfiet or legit, it’s going in the shredder. I don’t want do get a bad rap at my favorite stores.
Thanks to “Extreme Couponing” the stores are watching everyone like a hawk. All Krogers in my area have stopped doubling on items were there would be an excess amount (item costs $.88, coupon is for $.50 and the register only adds $.38–not $.50). That’s right they aren’t truly doubling (ours only double up to a $1.00 in total value) because they don’t want shoppers to use the overage to discount other items. I’ve been couponing for close to 30 years at the same chain and I’ve never seen anything like this.
About extreme couponing- yeah, I knew stores would buckle down since the popularity of couponing is on the rise. I had my binder with me in class a couple of days ago and one lady was like “So you coupon? it’s the hot new thing now”…I don’t want it to be the hot new thing!
Yea, I think the original coupon was legit and then there was some tampering of that coupon which led to this CIC reporting of the coupon as being counterfeit. I had printed it and was ready to use it tomorrow, but I tossed it because counterfeit or not, I don’t want any part of all that!
Thanks for posting this, Collin! I actually had two of these IPs ready to use at CVS tomorrow for the listerine deal…thank goodness I read this before I went to bed! Unfortunately, I’m sure some of these will slip thru the cracks tomorrow! 🙁 Hopefully the thug that made tons of photocopies of this IP gets busted!
Haven’t used mine, will tear up,!!!!! it is a shame BUT, you are awesome, do an excellent job, and this is not on you, THANKS for the warning. and as always YOU ARE the BEST Collin
Collin please don’t lose sleep over this. No worries! We all love you and still think you are the GREATEST!!!
This was one I did not print. I had a bad feeling about it. Too many random items on one coupon….
I printed it but then I noticed it started with a 9 which threw me off, so I threw it away, but I’m curious as to why people are able to validate it, I mean you would think it would come back invalid….
i hope they reissue a legitimate one, i think it was meant to be valid and something happened to nullify it, whether it be intentionally or not.
How did a counterfeiter get this to print out like a bricks coupon? Did they hack into their server/software? I have seen too many products on a coupon before (i.e. Tylenol Precise, Neosporin, Band-aid etc) so I did not think twice about this. I do not even remember when I used it as I probably used it immediately. Thanks for the update so no one prints it anymore.
Also, did they shut down the access to print it?
I was gonna use them tomorrow at CVS but will tear them up now. Thanks for letting us know and don’t worry about it because you honestly didn’t know.
“Also, did they shut down the access to print it?”
Nope. Just did it to see if it would. Weird stuff. I hope someone comes out with an explanation.
I was going to use it soon but I just discarded. Thanks for your info.
thank goodness i did not use the coupon yet!!the place
where i would have used it are already freaky about internet coupons.so thanks alot!!!!
I print out 4 of this coupon in two computer, but lucky I didn’t use it yet. Thanks for alerting. I just shred this coupon to prevent from using this.
yikes! i had printed 6 of these!!!! off of 3 computers at home last time there was a 5/$5 deal at CVS like they do now. I never got to use them b/c I didnt understand a blog posting of if it was for the current week or the following so i “missed out”. I’m sure glad i wasn’t nuts over that deal to hurry out and check to get it! Actually now that i think of it on another occasion i was going to use them on bandaids and they kept beeping! I was sure that they were beeping b/c there were so many items that it was for , that they might need to enter them manually. My mom kept texting me to get my butt home b/c she needed to run errands that time so I told the cashier nevermind (she was calling the manager to push them through and/or approve the transaction using the coupons) I was such in a rush it didnt mean much to leave without the deal at the time. Thanks to my laziness to get the first deal and my mom for bugging me the next time, i avoided hurting my cvs. They love me at my location! they always cheer on my deals and are always great with giving me rainchecks, getting inventory from the back for me, etc… they are so accomodating! Could you imagine if I would have used those coupons?????? they would never trust me again and doubt all the legitimate coupons I ever gave them….oh my gosh…scary!!!!
I used one at CVS for the Listerine deal but everything is unopened so I will return it tomorrow. And destroy the other one I have. Thanks for the info. Your site wasn’t the only one advertising it so don’t feel like the blame is on you.
P.s. All us Hip savers got your back! 😉
I’m not going to use mine either, but it just doesn’t add up that it was printed from a seemingly legitimate source and they are all counterfeit. CIC has the bar code incorrect on their list and there is a typo of “balue” on the coupon. I think there is probably a pdf fake out there somewhere and they just decided to call them all fake to be safe.
“CIC has the bar code incorrect on their list and there is a typo of “balue” on the coupon. I think there is probably a pdf fake out there somewhere and they just decided to call them all fake to be safe.”
The one I just printed from the bricks website that veri-fi says is valid has the same bar code as the CIC website one and has the word “balue” on it.
Definitely not a PDF.
I feel really bad about this one, the coupon beeped when I used it but the person on duty came up and pushed it through. Looking at the coupon that I printed later, it is coded as a B2G1 coupon which made me really wonder about the coupon but I have had occasion to find coupons that were coded wrong and scanned in at the wrong price. Now I know why I should have listened to that still, small voice that tries to keep me out of trouble. May I some time learn to listen…every time.
had a terrible time getting target to take this one. finally customer service got it to go through with the scanner gun – not manually overriding-uggh I feel bad
I used 2 of these at Walgreens. both times they had to manually enter them in . Feel bad for using a fraudulant coupon as I had no idea. On the other hand, it may make up for all those times a WAGS employee wouldn’t let me use a valid coupon on a valid item. Just kidding.
I know I printed 2 of these what seems like a month ago. I’m thinking i used at least one but can’t remember where or if I definitely did…I feel bad. But Collin you certainly shouldn’t feel bad about it. This is what happens sometimes, what is great is that you advised us! Thank you.
I used it at Riteaid for Carefree. They were 2 for $5 with $2 UP. So I can return the two packs for $3 which is what I paid after the coupon. I won’t count the $2 Up because I already used my Ups to pay for them anyway.
I tried to use if for that same deal and then realized that the size restrictions were off. My cashier and I assumed that’s why it beeped so we stopped using it…..
Thanks Colin for all you do. Even this simple act of informing us of this fake coupon goes way above all the other things you do for us. Couponers get looked at like we are stealing as it is so thanks for alerting us instead of the store having to inform us that it is fake. Out of all the couponing BLOGS that I vivist yours is the only one that I visit faithfully because I think that you are so down to earth and take what you are doing to heart.
Well i have used this coupon at CVS but my situation is a little different. When the cashier ran the coupon it beeped so she entered the coupon # manually. Well when i got home i looked at my receipt and I never got $2.00 off i was actually charged $2.00 extra dollars for my purchase. , CVS owes me $ but never went back cause gas is like 4 dollars not really worth the effort. So, yeah i just threw those coupons in the garbage after that.
Younknow, thank u for saying this. Now i remember i used mine at cvs and it did the same thing but the cashier saw it and put it in manually. I dont know if i have the receipt but will go back in and pay my $2.
Younknow, thank u for saying this. Now i remember i used mine at cvs and it did the same thing but the cashier saw it and put it in manually. I dont know if i have the receipt but will go back in and pay my $2.
This is what happened to me at Target as well, instead of taking OFF the $4 it added it on at the bottom as a manual key in. I remember because I had gone to CS to point out the mistake. I will be sure to return their $4! Thanks for the heads up 🙂
Whether this coupon was once legit or not, is really not the point now. It has been listed as a fraudulent coupon and others who have used it, unaware of this, have posted about it “beeping” and having to be overridden to use. The answer to what to do is simple: TEAR IT UP if you have it. If you have used the coupon and remember where and what product, contact the manager of that store and ask them how THEY would like you to handle the situation so that everyone can be made whole again.
The how and why of it happening are answers we will probably not receive, just do everything you can to make sure you are an honest in couponing and never sacrifice your integrity to save a few cents.
Thank you Collin for all your hard work and trying to keep everyone informed and up to date.
I have not seen this coupon, but it seems to me those that used it and want to make it right by the store is to pay the store the value of the coupon and you keep the item. I don’t see how returning the item and getting any cash you paid would be helping the store. I believe hip2save is always trying to make sure every deal is legit. I have seen other sites post deals saying to use a coupon on a different product because it works. New coupons users are very confused (as was I) when i first started. I want to do this right and not feel like a thief when i use my coupons. Thanks Collin for providing a place to get knowledge we need to do this right.
Also, I’m sure we HIPsters all still trust you- it was not your fault at all. Loyal Hipster, Laura
Whoops, I meant to add that comment to my own post
I am now wondering about the Nivea coupon that is supposed to be coming up in Sundays paper this week. They have it listed on there, but the size is weird (0.5 oz to 16.9) I wish they would give more information on where the counterfeit coupons were found. I hate to think that someone is counterfeiting our newspaper coupons!
Thanks TLC and Greedy people!
Collin, thanks for all that you do. You do not have to feel sick to your stomach because it was not your intention at all- we were all fooled by this coupon too! I mean, who knew the actual brick’s website would be a counterfeit? Thanks for notifying us.
And a question of coupon morality to all…if I had previously printed a couple copies of the physician’s formula $5 coupon, would it be bad of me to use it? It was a legitimate coupon directly from PF website, but do you guys think there should be a limit of only printing one? And As a matter of coupon morality?
I think 2 is a good limit, since that is what bricks allows 🙂 This is gray area to couponing if you ask me. I would use your own judgment.
What should I do? I initialky thought the purpose of a pdf was for multiple printings, but then I realized it was probably for the sake of the company’s comvenience
I agree with Laura – I wouldn’t use more than two coupons – it’s a super high value coupon and I am pretty the company didn’t intend for the same customer to use it over and over again. Personally, I only use PDF coupons one time.
You shouldn’t feel bad, you can’t be 100 percent all the time. I didn’t print this one.
I see Im not the only one up late :); I just went thru my binder and I too have the coupon; I will destroy it. Thanks Collin for the heads up. I’m already a ” beep phobic” and really try to make sure I read the coupons thoroughly and match my product accordingly.
I just checked 2 of my coupons I didn’t get a chance to use and it came up INVALID!
OH! that one was a shocker it looked 100% real!
Collin DO NOT WORRY!
it’s not your fault!.
I am new to the coupon campaign and printed a bunch of these, after I read this post I checked my coupons on https://www.couponsinc.com/crc/index.asp to verify them and it still came up valid. I have ripped them up, but wanted to know the best place to verify a coupon?
i actually lost mine lol good thing i guess
Really!
Wow.. I almost used mine @ Target. Bummer to hear people feel the need to be dishonest and create FAKE COUPONS! I will be ripping mine up, there are toooo many coupons avaliable to use FAKE one’s and ruin couponing for everyone 😉
I printed when it was first available, just checked them thru veri-fi and said mine where valid!? So I can still use them, right?
I also noticed that the upc listed for the counterfeit coupon is different than what is on my coupons. So maybe check them, there are some that are legit?!
I just checked both of mine through veri-fi and they both came up with the correct description and it said VALID.
Mine too! VALID
Has any one else looked at the CIC site?? 4 dollars off any jar of helmanns? REALLY? that has fake written all over it, I think the lower value ones are less suspious which is why none of us noticed.
Just have to be mindful of now. Especially with Extreme Couponing all the stores are on edge, my regular grocery store has been always been on high alert for coupons. Which makes it hard to use them. I have learned lots of patience with those cashiers!
Hopefully people will continue to be honest in couponing. “Integrity in all things”
ha, i liked the one that said free bag of kibbles and bits dog food up to 30 lbs… REALLY?
Does anyone know where the 1-800 number printed on the coupon goes? It says for questions about this coupon call 1-800-…. Is that a fake number? I checked the veri-fi site and it came up valid with the different bar code the date/time stamp was accurate though. It also has the typo “balue” in the fine print and the border says “Save 2.00 on any two Listerine(R) Mouthwash; expires 4/30/2011 (followed by a bunch of numbers and letters and the date stamp.)
I have destroyed the one I have left. I have used 3 already though and now I have to go embarrass myself in Target and try and explain why I owe them $6 because someone decided that saving(stealing IMO) $2 was worth their integrity.
Thank you Collin for all your work!
also does anyone know if the number above the fine print that says “Consumer one coupon per purchase…” is different for everyone? Because the one in the picture is 032511 and the number on the one I voided is 032311
Mine is 032411 so I’d say all different
That number is the date you printed the coupon.
Oh bummer! Thank you for sharing…..
I’m very confused about this matter because this site (https://www.couponsinc.com/crc/index.asp) supposed to help you verify if your printable is a legit one so I went on it and enter each one of the serial numbers on the coupons I have and they all said are legit.
I definitely not going to use them but the question that arise is….Is this page really reliable???? any comments??
Wow, I have 2 of these coupons! Glad I didn’t use them… I will destroy them! Thanks for letting us know! I above any sale or good deal want to be honest & coupon with integrity. Thank you!
I’ve noticed the ones that “look” like this have been coming from Albertson’s (or as someone else mentioned ACME)… I think the barcodes are coded to work at THEIR stores only, and be a RETAILER coupon, not meant to be a Manufactuer’s coupon. The same thing with the buy 2 Coke/Dasani 20 oz. Save $1 one from last week. Anytime I tried to use these “Double 9” bar coded coupons, they have beeped like crazy at CVS or grocery stores. I’m pretty sure “Double 9” barcodes are store specific now.
I had printed the Coke one and tried using at CVS and it beeped and they forced it through, later that seem week I got an email from Farm Fresh (Albertsons) for that same coupon and it was a store coupon and it wouldn’t let me print it b/c I had already printed the max.
I’m shocked too…thank you for letting us know Collin! I still have 2 coupons that I planned to use last weekend, so glad I didn’t! I threw them away…it’s sad that some ppl make such fake coupons..:(
I feel horrible I used mine at Wal-Mart a few days ago and it rang but the cashier rang it through I already open one of the items What SHOULD I DO???
I printed these out earlier tonight… so just how did the fakers get it to look like it is from Brick’s? AND, why do they each have a different number below the dot scan barcode? Weird. Definitely time to fire up the shredder though. I don’t want to be responsible for any store getting cheated.
As nice as it would be to return the items and “let them keep the money”, I don’t think any of the stores systems would allow this, and then there is the accurate inventory issue, and correct amount of money in the till. Since this was not intentional, if this is weighing on your concious, think about donating the product. Then we can turn an unintentional mistake into something good. :^)
You’re right, I work retail and was just wondering how I would have to handle this today should this happen. We can take back the item, but the person is going to get their money back, wether the coupon go on a gift card or not…We also can’t just take back the item withouth running it through the system because then the inventory is off. The best thing I can think of doing, is like what I read somewhere above where someone had given the person at Walmart the $4 (2 coupons worth) and they made a note of it. I’m sure most retailers have a way of putting that money back into the system without it looking weird to corporate. I printed out the CIC to take to work this morning in case corporate hasn’t e-mailed us about it yet.
Thanks Collin, just threw mine in the recycle bin. I too have a great relationship with my drug store cashiers and would feef horrible if I used a “bad” coupon.
Thank you for letting us know Collin! I think I may have used one, but I’m really not even sure where or on what. It was some time ago, I will be getting rid of my other one.
I read on another site where it was ONLY the one with that coupon number — that it had been photocopied & it was the fraud. one. That makes sense, since I KNOW I printed mine directly from coupons.com off of mypoints.
Mine was adding money at CVS, but eventually the problem was rectified. I printed it directly from mypoints.com (coupons section) so unless the individuals hacked the site, I knew mine was legitimate. I agree that it was strange that it started adding money to my transaction. I had used it a couple weeks ago.
I haven’t used it, thank goodness, and really I was a little wary of it because there were so many random items on it. But why would someone create a coupon like this? I mean I could understand like a $4/1 Listerine or something, but why $2/2? Kinda weird….