Woman Indicted in $17M Counterfeit Coupon Scheme Targeting Retailers Nationwide

Federal prosecutors in New Jersey allege Janet Bernal ran a subscription-based fraud operation from 2020 to 2024, distributing fake coupons through an online group.

A federal grand jury in the District of New Jersey has indicted a San Antonio, Texas woman for allegedly orchestrating a multi-year scheme to distribute counterfeit coupons that resulted in over $17 million in losses to retailers and manufacturers across the United States, according to an April 16 announcement by U.S. Attorney Alina Habba.

Janet Bernal, 48, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud. The charges stem from an alleged scheme Bernal operated from June 2020 through August 2024 in which she produced and sold fraudulent coupons that were widely used at grocery and pharmacy retailers across the country, including in New Jersey.

According to the indictment, Bernal sold access to counterfeit coupons via a subscription group hosted on a widely used cloud-based messaging platform. Subscribers paid monthly fees—collected through mobile cash apps under Bernal’s control—and, in return, were given unrestricted access to thousands of digital counterfeit coupons. These were then redeemed at retail stores by members of the group, resulting in significant financial losses to both retailers and manufacturers.

Investigators estimate the total loss from the scheme exceeded $17 million. The wire fraud and conspiracy charges each carry a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the financial gain or loss caused by the offense.

The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen in Newark. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake Coppotelli of the Economic Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

Authorities emphasize that the charges are allegations, and Bernal is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

This case underscores the broader vulnerability of retail systems to fraudulent coupon schemes, which have increasingly migrated to digital platforms and social media-based distribution methods.