To specify I am wondering about the person using them not making them!
2006-06-13 15:56:35 · 15 answers · asked by Gweedo8 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Let me clear up the "it's only a misdemeanor" talk.
If they entered a business with the intent to use them (i.e. theft of money) it is a felony burglary. And no, I am not kidding.
In CA, all it takes is entering the business with the intent to commit theft, regardless of the amount stolen!
CA's definition of theft includes taking property or money "by any false or fraudulent representation or pretense, defraud any other person of money,..."
2006-06-13 20:15:29 · answer #1 · answered by gunsandammoatwork 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the company that owns the product or store in which the coupon is being redeemed is really strict, the person can probably be charged with forgery, theft by deception, etc. These crimes can be charged at the misdemeanor or felony levels depending on the jurisdiction, prior record, amount of coupons, etc.
2006-06-13 23:03:32 · answer #2 · answered by Lady Amazed 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically, it's mail fraud, and you can get federal time for it. It also may be an additional type of fraud depending on how it was created, transmitted, delivered, used, redeemed, and turned in. If it is $.35 off on a gallon of milk, no one really cares unless the shopkeeper gets a bug up his but about it, then he could have you for petty theft, but if it is more along the lines of "save $10,000 on a new car," you will go to jail.
2006-06-13 23:06:15 · answer #3 · answered by gwydiontinker 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are caught, it is Misdemeanor theft and worth a fine of no less than 500 dollars in most states. It isn't worth the supposed savings.
Of course, if you do it for a long time and are caught, AND they can trace you back, it will depend on how much you have stolen over time. You can get as high as Grand Theft, a felony worth prison time. Good luck.
2006-06-13 23:03:29 · answer #4 · answered by thewildeman2 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Apparently someone was doing this for subway stamps. Ultimately Subway cancelled the program. Everyone loses in this case. So in addition to being illegal, using bogus coupons may cause another business to cancel the program
2006-06-13 23:12:54 · answer #5 · answered by wanninonni 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as you're not the one making them, you can pretend you didn't know they were counterfeit. The worst that will probably happen is they'll tell you to pay full price for what you want to buy.
2006-06-13 23:04:24 · answer #6 · answered by Dark Angel-Sk8rgurl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They shouldn't get any prison... but seriously, is saving 35 cents on a gallon of milk worth the trouble?
2006-06-13 22:59:21 · answer #7 · answered by Self-Sufficient 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not very much, it would be up to the Manufacturer to prosecute you, it is small Misdemeanor only worthy of a ticket
2006-06-14 00:40:39 · answer #8 · answered by back2skewl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I worked at a grocery store. None, just turned down to use them.
2006-06-13 23:02:30 · answer #9 · answered by Milo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How pathetic that you would even ask. It doesn't matter how much trouble you would get into ... the point is that it is WRONG to do it. So don't do it.
2006-06-13 23:10:05 · answer #10 · answered by tuffsubject 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋