Honey Browser Extension Scam | Why Do People Think It is a Scam

The Honey browser extension is not a scam — it’s a legitimate and widely used tool for finding online coupon codes. However, there are some important caveats and risks to be aware of, especially regarding fake versions, privacy concerns, and how it’s marketed.


✅ What Is Honey?

Honey is a free browser extension (owned by PayPal since 2020) that automatically finds and applies coupon codes at checkout when you shop online.


💡 So Why Do People Think It’s a Scam?

Here are the common reasons:


⚠️ 1. Fake or Malicious Imitations

  • Scammers create lookalike extensions or websites pretending to be Honey.

  • These can:

    • Steal passwords or payment info

    • Install malware

  • Only download from the official browser extension store or joinhoney.com


⚠️ 2. Data Privacy Concerns

  • Honey collects data about your shopping and browsing habits.

  • While they say it’s anonymized, you are giving up privacy in exchange for deals.

  • Some users are uncomfortable with this level of data tracking.

What Honey tracks:

  • Websites you visit (especially shopping ones)

  • Your cart details (to apply codes)

  • Purchase history and usage patterns

Also Read : Baby of the Year Scam


⚠️ 3. Amazon Drama

  • In 2019, Amazon displayed a warning saying:
    “Honey is a security risk. Uninstall this extension immediately.”

  • This sparked rumors that Honey was unsafe, but:

    • It was likely competitive marketing, not a real security issue

    • PayPal defended Honey, saying it’s safe and secure


⚠️ 4. Misleading Savings Claims

  • Sometimes the “discounts” Honey finds:

    • Are expired or don’t work

    • Aren’t the best available

  • It doesn’t always find you the lowest price — it just applies known promo codes


🛡️ How to Use Honey Safely

  1. ✅ Install it from official sources:

  2. 🛑 Avoid downloading from random websites, emails, or ads.

  3. 🔐 Review its permissions:

    • You can limit when it runs (e.g., only on certain sites)

  4. 📊 Understand what data you’re giving up — and be okay with it.


✅ Verdict: Is Honey a Scam?

CriteriaVerdict
Legit company?✔️ Yes (Owned by PayPal)
Safe to use?✔️ Yes, if installed from official sources
Privacy tradeoffs?⚠️ Yes – tracks shopping data
Fake versions exist?❗Yes – be very careful

If you choose to use Honey, it is recommended to:

  • Download it from official sources only: Use your browser’s official extension store or the joinhoney.com website.
  • Be aware of its data collection: Understand the privacy implications and decide if the trade-off is worth it for you.
  • Check other sources for deals: Don’t rely solely on Honey to find the absolute best deal, and consider manually searching for coupons or using other tools as well.

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