Coupon Applications and Security

[Bronxgodzilla]

I think the utilization of coupons in many forms of marketing is made ingeniously available in 68C programming. My plan was to publish some Coupon Codes and get some viral marketing going. But what about security? I believe the coupon code works by attaching the code to the new member's ID, which then decrements the given total coupons to be used, as set in Admin.

What I have not found, from any past posts, are any issues or solutions to the possibility of abuse, that the same Coupon Code can be used over and over by the same person who just comes back in freely registering as another person, then uses the coupon to get more product. For example, I set the coupon for 100 uses, where it is good for $10 of product. BadApple Joe comes in and comes and comes in.... etc. Result? I have just given away $1000 worth of product and may not have even gotten one new member. The whole system is defeated.

Are there solutions or work-arounds for this eventually of Murphy's Law? Coupons are such a great feature in 68C, and I really want to make use of it.

Barry

[Eric Barnes]

Really there is nothing in place to prevent one person from registering multiple times or placing multiple ads with the same coupon code.

The system is very flexable and you could always create multiple coupons or just ban that Johnny Bad Apple.

[seymourjames]

You may be able to minimize this by checking for IP addressees and cookies. Not sure how practical this would be to do. Two users from the same IP address makes an alarm bell ring.

[Lhotch]

Originally Posted by seymourjames

You may be able to minimize this by checking for IP addressees and cookies. Not sure how practical this would be to do. Two users from the same IP address makes an alarm bell ring.

The IP check could also potentially prevent a large population of legitimate users from being able to use a coupon etc. Some of the big internet providers run all traffic from certain geographies through the same proxy and they in turn presemt the same ip.

[seymourjames]

Cookies will be one way to prevent the simpler frauds (i.e people who do not understand cookies), email authentication is another.

[Bronxgodzilla]

Originally Posted by seymourjames

Cookies will be one way to prevent the simpler frauds (i.e people who do not understand cookies), email authentication is another.

I think you are right on here, David. And it makes a lot of sense; someone being given a coupon for a free [Item] shouldnt have a qualm about verifying their email address -- cookies and authentication both in tandem could be just what the doctor ordered!
Thanks
Barry