Scam alert: Wegmans Facebook coupon giveaway is fake, company says

Wegmans Food Markets Inc., the popular grocery chain with several locations in New Jersey, is warning consumers not to fall for a scam involving a fake Facebook post involving the promise of hundreds of dollars in grocery coupons.

According to Wegmans, there is a fraudulent Facebook post circulating on social media bearing the company's name.

"The Facebook post shows the image of a Wegmans storefront with a false claim that the company is giving away a free $200 grocery coupon.This giveaway is neither affiliated with nor supported by Wegmans," the company said in a press release Monday.

The press release states that the company was made aware of the scam on Monday, when a Wegmans employee saw it on social media and questioned its validity.

“We’re actively working to have this fraudulent post removed from Facebook. We urge consumers not to click it, share it, or provide any personal information," said Jo Natale, Wegmans vice president of media relations.

Similar scams have become increasingly common on Facebook, often involving other major companies such as Best Buy and Target. The Better Business Bureau tracks scams throughout the country on it's BBB Scam Tracker.

As of Feb. 1, more than 15,000 scams were on the bureau's radar. The BBB has an entire section devoted to scams and educating consumers about how they can avoid different cons that pop up on social media or via phone calls or mail.

Wegmans is an 88-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and Massachusetts.

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor for news at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.