**Consumer Alert: Dunkin's "Free Coffee" May 19 Is a Trap for Your Wallet**

Consumer Alert: Dunkin’s “Free Coffee” May 19 Is a Trap for Your Wallet

You think you’re getting a free coffee on May 19? Think again.

Dunkin’s “Free Coffee Day” sounds like a win, but here’s the fine print that’s going to cost you. The offer requires you to download their app—handing over your location data, purchase history, and email—before you even get the cup. Then, the kicker: to redeem the “free” medium hot or iced coffee, you must purchase another item. That’s a $2-$3 bagel or donut you never wanted.

But here’s the real hit to your budget: the app is designed to track every sip, pushing you into a “rewards” cycle that makes you spend $30 to get a $2 coffee down the line. Meanwhile, the “free” coffee itself? It’s the cheapest brew they make—a medium costs them pennies.

The bottom line: You’ll walk out paying for a snack you didn’t plan for, and Dunkin gets your data and a loyal customer. Your wallet loses. If you go, skip the app, skip the add-on, or better yet, make your own coffee at home for 20 cents. Don’t let the “free” sign fool you—your real cost is your privacy and your cash.