A woman from San Antonio, Texas has been officially charged in a massive counterfeit coupon scheme that allegedly caused over $17 million in losses to stores and product manufacturers all over the United States.
The announcement was made on April 16 by U.S. Attorney Alina Habba after a federal grand jury in New Jersey indicted the woman.
The woman, identified as 48-year-old Janet Bernal, now faces serious criminal charges, including one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five separate counts of wire fraud.
Authorities say the illegal activity took place between June 2020 and August 2024. During this time, Bernal is accused of creating and distributing fake coupons that were accepted by popular grocery stores and pharmacies across the country, including many in New Jersey.
According to official court documents, Bernal set up an online subscription group on a popular messaging app, where she offered access to fake digital coupons. People who joined this group had to pay monthly fees.
These payments were made through mobile payment apps that Bernal reportedly managed. Once they joined, members were allowed to freely access and use thousands of fake coupons.
Retailers and manufacturers lost huge amounts of money because these coupons were used just like real ones at checkout counters. Investigators believe the total damage caused by this scam exceeded $17 million, making it one of the larger fraud cases involving coupons in recent years.
Each of the wire fraud and conspiracy charges can lead to a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. In addition to prison time, the penalties may also include a $250,000 fine per count or a fine equal to double the amount of money lost due to the crime.
The investigation was handled by the United States Postal Inspection Service. The Newark division, led by Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen, played a key role in gathering the evidence used for the indictment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake Coppotelli from the Economic Crimes Unit is in charge of prosecuting the case.
Officials have reminded the public that these are just charges at this point, and Bernal is still presumed innocent unless a court proves otherwise.
Cases like this highlight how coupon fraud has changed over the years. In the past, scammers used physical paper coupons to cheat stores. But now, as everything moves online, people are finding ways to make and share digital fake coupons through social media apps, cloud services, and encrypted chat platforms.
Retail stores often depend on manufacturers to reimburse them for coupons accepted at checkout. When a fake coupon is used, the manufacturer refuses to pay, and the store ends up bearing the loss.
As more people learn about and misuse these tricks, stores are facing increasing financial pressure and are being forced to tighten their systems. Some companies are even investing in advanced digital tools to detect and stop such fraud.
Experts say that even though many people may think of coupon fraud as a small crime, the financial damage can be massive when done on a large scale like in this case.
Prosecutors also point out that these types of crimes often involve well-organized groups who share knowledge and tools for making the fake coupons, making it difficult to detect and stop them early.
This case is also a wake-up call for consumers. While many people enjoy using coupons to save money, it’s important to make sure the offers are real and come from trusted sources.
Joining shady online groups or using apps that promise unbelievable discounts can sometimes mean you’re unknowingly taking part in a fraud scheme.
Authorities have not yet confirmed how many people were involved in Bernal’s group or whether more arrests will follow. Investigations in such cases often continue even after the main person is charged, as law enforcement looks into others who may have helped or knowingly used the fake coupons.
As the legal process continues, the outcome of this case may set an example for future digital coupon fraud cases. Prosecutors are expected to take a tough stance, especially given the huge financial losses and the long period over which the fraud allegedly took place.
With more people shopping online and using digital platforms for everyday purchases, law enforcement agencies are paying closer attention to cyber-based fraud.
Whether it’s fake coupons, return scams, or fake reviews, digital retail fraud is on the rise. This makes cooperation between tech platforms, stores, and investigators more important than ever before.
For now, the case against Janet Bernal will move forward in the federal court system, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.