Better Business Bureau warns of fake grocery, gas vouchers that could cost customers

August 20, 2026 - 00:01

The Better Business Bureau is sounding the alarm over a new wave of fake vouchers arriving in mailboxes. The scheme involves postcards or flyers that promise significant savings on groceries and gasoline, often claiming to be from a local supermarket chain or a well-known fuel brand. The catch, the BBB warns, is that consumers are asked to pay a small "processing" or "delivery" fee, usually between two and five dollars, to unlock the supposed value.

Once the fee is paid, the vouchers either never arrive, or the ones that do turn out to be worthless pieces of paper that no store will accept. In some cases, the scammers use the payment to harvest credit card or banking information for larger fraudulent charges later. The BBB notes that the materials look surprisingly professional, with official-looking logos and fine print designed to confuse. They are also targeting specific neighborhoods with bulk mailings, which makes the offers seem more legitimate.

The agency advises that no legitimate retailer or fuel company will ever ask you to pay a fee to receive a discount or a gift card. If you receive such an offer, the safest move is to throw it away without responding. Anyone who has already paid should contact their bank or credit card company immediately to dispute the charge and monitor their accounts for suspicious activity. You can also report the scam to the BBB's Scam Tracker to help warn others in your area. Remember, if a deal arrives unsolicited and asks for money upfront, it is almost certainly a trap.