Fake Discount Codes on Pinterest
Pinterest boards and pins are used to distribute fake discount codes that direct purchase-ready users to phishing sites or generate fraudulent affiliate commissions.
Part of: Fake Discount Codes
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Pinterest's product-focused user intent makes it an attractive platform for fake discount code operations. Users searching for deals and shopping ideas are more likely than average to click a discount-promising pin, and the platform's external-link model means any link can direct to a fraudulent checkout without Pinterest moderation intervening.
Boards dedicated to coupons, deals, and savings are frequently seeded with fake discount pins that mimic the format of legitimate coupon-sharing communities.
How this scam works on Pinterest
A Pinterest account or board pins discount code promotions for popular brands and retailers. Each pin links to an external site that closely mimics the genuine retailer but captures payment and personal data rather than processing a real purchase.
Alternatively, the discount code is real but funnels through a fraudulent affiliate tracking link, generating commissions for a scammer who enrolled in the retailer's affiliate programme under a false identity. Pinterest's search indexing means fake discount pins can appear alongside genuine coupon content in product searches.
Some operations use Pinterest's ad system to boost fraudulent discount pins to audiences actively searching for deals.
Common red flags
- Pin promises a discount significantly larger than typical promotions for the brand
- Link directs to a URL that differs subtly from the genuine retailer's domain
- Code requires registration with personal details beyond an email address
- Pin was recently created and the account focuses exclusively on discount promotions
- The discount is not mentioned on the genuine brand's official Pinterest account
- Checkout on the linked site uses an unusual or unrecognised payment processor
How to protect yourself
- Verify any discount by navigating directly to the retailer's official website
- Compare the domain of any Pinterest-linked discount page carefully against the genuine retailer domain
- Do not enter payment details on a page reached through a Pinterest pin without independent URL verification
- Report fake discount pins to Pinterest using the pin report function
- Notify the retailer whose brand is being misused
How to report it
- Report the pin using the three-dot menu and report option on the pin
- Alert the genuine retailer through their official customer service or fraud team
- File a complaint with your national consumer protection body if personal data was captured
Frequently asked questions
Are Pinterest deal boards a reliable source for discount codes?
Some genuine coupon-sharing communities exist on Pinterest, but the platform is also heavily seeded with fake codes. Always verify a code directly on the retailer's official website rather than clicking a pin link, however the board is presented.