More Changes to Emerge for Coupons in the New Year
THE COUPON INDUSTRY will continue to evolve in 2026 with three developments dominating the headlines. They are:
The Rise of Hybrid Counterfeits
In December 2025, the Coupon Information Corporation (CIC) became aware of a new and concerning threat: the hybrid counterfeit coupon. An individual obtained a high-value manufacturer paper coupon, copied the barcode, and separated it from rest of the coupon into a smaller image intended to be placed on cell phones. This image was branded as a “glitch” and circulated on social media — encouraging consumers to redeem it as a digital offer.
This blending of paper and digital signals an escalation in fraud tactics and highlights how offers can be repurposed to exploit digital ecosystems.
The Growing Need for a Layered Defense
Organizations that rely on a single fraud-prevention control remain vulnerable. As fraudsters increasingly leverage automation, hacking technologies, social platforms, and hybrid techniques, gaps in one-dimensional defenses will become easier to exploit.
In 2026, effective coupon fraud prevention will require a layered approach — combining technology, analytics, operational controls, and human expertise — to reduce exposure meaningfully and adapt to evolving threats.
Digital Comes of Age
Digital promotions are expanding rapidly. Manufacturers and retailers will spend much of the year navigating both the intended and unintended consequences of this growth. This includes responding to evolving digital fraud tactics, managing potential regulatory and political scrutiny, educating internal teams on digital-specific risks, and striking the right balance between digital and paper-based promotional strategies.
The CIC is evolving with the industry (and the criminals) by compiling new loss prevention practices, policies, law enforcement techniques, and anti-fraud technologies.
The Coupon Information Corporation is a not-for-profit association of consumer product manufacturers dedicated to fighting coupon misredemption and fraud. CIC was founded to encourage integrity in connection with the redemption of manufacturers’ coupons and participation in other promotional programs. CIC encourages and supports federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts to identify, investigate, and prosecute coupon misredemption.
Bud Miller is Executive Director of the Coupon Information Center. For more information, please visit www.couponinformationcenter.com
