Avoid Getting Conned By Fake Gas Coupons

We can’t say how high gas prices are going to rise. But there’s one thing we can predict—as the price crises continues, we’ll see a new wave of gasoline-related cons, scams and frauds popping up to take advantage of unwary motorists.

Plenty are already available online, where it’s easy to find sites selling everything from magnets that attach to your fuel line to additives that promise to ionize your gasoline.

Never mind that rigorous testing at the Environmental Protection Agency has already proven that none of these magical manipulations do anything to increase gas mileage. As long as cash-strapped motorists are buying, these fake fuel savers will be selling.

Fuel-line magnets and ionizing additives have been around a long time. But there’s a new baby in the world of gas-related con games. The latest scam is selling fake gas coupons.

Fake gas coupons are usually described as “gas coupons” or “gas gift cards” or even “gas rewards programs.” Sellers may claim the coupons have been cut from newspapers or shopping guides or say they received them as purchase premiums. Others say the coupons are gifts they cannot use so they’re selling them at a deep discount.

In some cases, the coupons are out-and-out fakes, homemade computer creations designed to trick you out of your hard-earned dollars.

But often these discount cards and coupons are real buyers premiums issued by big-name gas companies. But don’t let that recognizable name lull you into a false sense of security.

In most cases, the coupons can only be redeemed at the location printed on the face of the coupon. That designated gas station may be far from where you live. A free gas coupon from Los Angeles won’t do you any good if you live in Maine.

We’ve already seen fake gas coupons or discount card scams on several auction sites, on CraigsList and even in email spam. So beware.

But don’t let these fakes scare you away from the real deals. Retailers have discovered that gas coupons are a great way to lure customers in, so there are plenty of real gas coupons, gift cards and reward programs out there.

We’ve seen gas cards being used as rewards and incentives by auto dealers, and tire retailers, of course. But as other types of businesses are being affected by gas prices, they, too, are using gas coupons as a lure.

Recently we’ve seen gas being used as an incentive by the travel industry. High gas prices are forcing many people to cut back on travel plans. The hotels, resorts and inns that depend on travelers are offering gas-related incentives to keep their rooms filled with guests.

You can find travel-related offers by using any search engine to look for terms like “hotel + gas + discount” or “motel + gas + coupon.” We searched for “b&b + gas + discounts” and found a wide variety of bed and breakfast inns offering discounts to help offset the price of gas at this web

With so many businesses offering gas coupons and discounts as an incentive, there are sure to be some you can take advantage of with no fear of being defrauded. Just remember to protect yourself by playing it safe. You’re already paying out a lot of money for gas. Don’t let fake gas coupons add to your expense.