09.19.21
A Virginia couple operated a counterfeit coupon ring that bilked household and personal product makers and their retail partners out of millions of dollars.
Lori Ann Talens, 41, and her husband, Pacifico Talens Jr., 43, ran one of the largest counterfeiting rings in US history, according to the US Department of Justice. The couple ran the counterfeit ring from April 2017 to May 2020. Their scheme cost Kimberly-Clark nearly $9 million; Procter & Gamble, $2.8 million; Unilever, $2.5 million and Henkel, $1.7 million.
The Talens used Facebook and Telegram to find coupon users and sell them counterfeits. Using the online name "MasterChef," Lori Talens made counterfeit vouchers that "were virtually indistinguishable from authentic coupons and were often created with inflated values, far in excess of what an authentic coupon would offer, in order to receive items from retail for free or for a greatly reduced price," according to a Department of Justice statement.
Lori Talens shipped the counterfeit coupons using the US Postal Service and accepted payment through online payment methods such as Bitcoin and Paypal. Her husband assisted in shipping the counterfeit coupons and profited from the sales.
The scheme fell apart when a customer reported the couple to Coupon Information Center, a coalition dedicated to coupon integrity. The CIC acted as Talens' customer, purchased coupons and later confirmed they were counterfeit. The CIC notified the US Postal Inspection Service, which investigated the case.
Lori Talens pleaded guilty to mail fraud, wire fraud and health care fraud. She faces 12 years in jail. Pacifico Talens already pleaded guilty to mail fraud and was sentenced to seven years behind bars.
“This massive counterfeit coupon scheme harmed consumers, retailers, and manufacturers nationwide, and the economy at large," Acting US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Raj Parekh said in statement.
Lori Ann Talens, 41, and her husband, Pacifico Talens Jr., 43, ran one of the largest counterfeiting rings in US history, according to the US Department of Justice. The couple ran the counterfeit ring from April 2017 to May 2020. Their scheme cost Kimberly-Clark nearly $9 million; Procter & Gamble, $2.8 million; Unilever, $2.5 million and Henkel, $1.7 million.
The Talens used Facebook and Telegram to find coupon users and sell them counterfeits. Using the online name "MasterChef," Lori Talens made counterfeit vouchers that "were virtually indistinguishable from authentic coupons and were often created with inflated values, far in excess of what an authentic coupon would offer, in order to receive items from retail for free or for a greatly reduced price," according to a Department of Justice statement.
Lori Talens shipped the counterfeit coupons using the US Postal Service and accepted payment through online payment methods such as Bitcoin and Paypal. Her husband assisted in shipping the counterfeit coupons and profited from the sales.
The scheme fell apart when a customer reported the couple to Coupon Information Center, a coalition dedicated to coupon integrity. The CIC acted as Talens' customer, purchased coupons and later confirmed they were counterfeit. The CIC notified the US Postal Inspection Service, which investigated the case.
Lori Talens pleaded guilty to mail fraud, wire fraud and health care fraud. She faces 12 years in jail. Pacifico Talens already pleaded guilty to mail fraud and was sentenced to seven years behind bars.
“This massive counterfeit coupon scheme harmed consumers, retailers, and manufacturers nationwide, and the economy at large," Acting US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Raj Parekh said in statement.
