In addition, the BBB says you never want to give your personal information to strangers online. These gift exchanges are a form of gambling, and you could face jail time, fines or lawsuits for mail fraud by participating. Pyramid schemes are illegal in the United States. "Once people stop participating in the gift exchange, the gift supply stops as well, and leaves hundreds of disappointed people without their promised gifts." "Just like any other pyramid scheme, it relies on the recruitment of individuals to keep the scam afloat," the BBB says. Unfortunately, your favor won't be reciprocated.
The cycle continues and you end up buying and shipping gifts to unknown people. Then, you're instructed to send an email or social media invite that asks to send a modest gift to a stranger along with their friends, family and contacts. This information gets added to an existing list of people who have already provided their information - strangers from the Internet that you've never met. It asks you for a few details, such as your name, address and the personal information of some of your friends and family. The scheme starts with an invitation, either by email or social media. "Users were encouraged to invite others to participate in the holiday gift exchange, then promised they would receive information on where to mail the gifts." "The 'Secret Sister' gift exchange campaign quickly became popular in 2015 through Facebook posts promising participants would receive up to 36 gifts, in exchange for sending one gift, valued at $10," the BBB says in a press release. Gaining popularity in 2015, the "Secret Sister" scam is a pyramid scheme disguised as a fun online gift exchange. That the "Secret Sister" gift exchange that circulates on Facebook every year is an illegal scam. While it’s fun to be included, the BBB said this is one invitation to decline.Ĭopyright 2020 by KSAT - All rights reserved.As the holidays approach, the Better Business Bureau is reminding people “We want you to know it could turn sour quickly when you are sending gifts to people you don’t know who are part of this list.” “We don’t want people to be a Grinch,” Meza said. While it may sound like fun, the BBB said it’s an illegal pyramid scheme. You provide your address and information, as well as that of some friends and you pass along the invitation. You buy one $10 gift and will receive as many as 36 gifts in return. The scam begins with an invitation, typically through Facebook. It becomes a form of gambling,” said BBB Regional Director Jason Meza. but the gift exchange quickly becomes something where it becomes illegal. “It’s a very fun pay-it-forward kind of scenario. The Secret Sister or Secret Santa Gift Exchange is another scheme making the holiday rounds on social media, one that’s illegal, the Better Business Bureau warns. If you do suspect a real problem, look up the real contact information for yourself and verify. Do not press one or call back at the given number, the FTC warns. The FTC says the calls are fraudulent, and are attempts to steal your account or credit card numbers or other personal information. Again, the person is to press one or call back at a certain number. In the Apple version, the caller says the person’s iCloud account has been breached and they shouldn’t use any Apple device until the suspicious activity is addressed. To cancel the transaction, the person is instructed to press one to cancel or to stay on the line to speak with someone. One call says an iPhone for $749 is being ordered. In the Amazon version, the caller says there is some sort of problem with a purchase. A similar scam impersonates another big company, Apple, according to the FTC. The Federal Trade Commission warns that scammers are calling, pretending to be from Amazon trying to confirm a big purchase. SAN ANTONIO – As holiday shoppers log on to Amazon in record numbers, scammers are stealing the moment - and maybe more.
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