In this tight economy, more and more of us are turning to coupons to help save money. A recent survey found coupon usage has increased by 39% in the last three years, with one in four consumers finding their deals online. Now scam artists are taking full advantage of that.

Take Nancy Lombardo. She isn't so different than the rest of us who make a weekly practice of cutting coupons, but she also wanders the Web for savings.

"It's easy to find them. I can type in what I'm looking for specifically," she explains.

But she recently found that clicking on a coupon isn't always the great deal it appears to be. She was lured into a site for savings, and ended up losing hundreds of dollars. A pop up ad promised a deal if she would just swap some personal information.

"This seems like anything else I fill out, so I did it," Lombardo recalls.

But the company ended up sending her products she didn't intentionally order, and her credit card statement reflects it.

Consumer experts, like Michelle Corey with the Better Business Bureau, say this is just one reason you need to be wary of the pop up.

"They may be asking a series of questions in order to obtain some of their free coupons, but these questions could be setting you up to steal your identity. Some pop up ads may also be trying to keep your attention while they're downloading spy ware to your computer system. Others may be downloading a virus," Corey explains.

And don't automatically trust coupons that arrive via e-mail, even if they come from a friend or relative. They could be fake, like some the BBB showed us. Always confirm with the store that an e-coupon is legit...before you shop!

"Sometimes they look very realistic. They actually have the logo, but it doesn't make it real though," Corey warns.

Before visiting any savings site, check it out. Always look to see whether an online coupon is being offered directly by the store or by a third party, which may ask you to share more personal information. If you're concerned after doing your research, look at newspaper ads, retailers' own supplements, or a manufacturer's actual website.

Nancy is still fighting the charges that were made to her account. She says, "This has been one nightmare of an experience."

One other tip: Avoid paying for any coupons you find online--you should be able to get your savings for free.