Make sure online coupons are the real deal

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Online coupons are everywhere these days, but many come with a catch! FOX6's Contact 6 says folks should be sure the deal they clip is the coupon they really want!

Parents and students are getting ready to go back to school, which is a great time to find good deals on a lot of products -- and coupons are everywhere.

Using scissors to cut coupons from the paper is a thing of the past for most of us, but with the rise of so-called free internet coupons comes a lot of deceptive deals.

Identifying the good ones is key -- otherwise you might not get the deal you download.

The Better Business Bureau says check and see who is actually offering the coupon -- the store, vs. a third party.

Third parties and partners may require you to sign up on an email list to be able to redeem a coupon.

Pop-up offers are always suspect, telling you to click immediately to redeem that deal. Clicking the ad may automatically sign you up for services you never intended on receiving, and you could get billed for them.

Of course -- read the fine print!

Always read the terms and conditions before agreeing to anything -- no matter how lengthy or wordy it is. It will save you a lot of hassle later on if you know what to expect.

Contact 6 also advises calling the store where the coupon is offered. Because of the rise in coupon fraud, many stores may not honor your coupon. It's better to know ahead of time whether you have a real deal in your hands.