A Virginia Beach woman has been sentenced to 12 years in jail for her role in a huge couponing scam. Lori Ann Talens created counterfeit coupons in her house, replete with product images and functional barcodes, according to the Virginian-Pilot.
Coupons are difficult to trace due to their widespread distribution and lack of unique barcodes. Pacifico Talens, her husband, was also convicted and punished for his role, which mostly involved the distribution of the counterfeits.
Coupons gave high discounts, often greater than the item’s value, allowing buyers to earn money back on purchases. Lori will serve a 12-year sentence; Pacifico will serve a seven-year sentence.
They have been released on bond for a few weeks while they arrange for child care.
Lori Ann Talens began selling the coupons in 2017 via a network recruited through a coupon clipper Facebook group under the name MasterChef, making over $400,000—and costing manufacturers approximately $31 million.
According to the New York Times, she distributed the vouchers via mail and accepted payment via PayPal or Bitcoin. One of the scam’s coupon fanatics figured out how it worked and informed the Coupon Information Center.
When Talens was apprehended last year, she confessed to everything and went down with detectives to explain how her scheme worked and how coupon frauds are perpetrated across the country, according to the Pilot.
Image Credit: Photo taken Jan. 8, 2014. (David B. Hollingsworth)