
You will receive little to no money back on your “investment” or gift exchange.

Beware of this holiday gift exchange scam circulating on Facebook. No matter what they claim, pyramid schemes will not make you rich. Secret Sister is a chain letter-type gift exchange pyramid scheme that has been primarily spread through Facebook. These imposter schemes are false as the government will never endorse illegal activity. Some pyramid schemes try to win your confidence by claiming they’re legal and endorsed by the government. This will open you up to identity theft and other scams. Keep us all updated and show off your gifts, meet your secret Santa and make new connections. Never give your personal information to strangers. A place to share everything relating to this year‘s holiday gift exchange.You can report these Facebook posts by clicking in the upper righthand corner and selecting “Report post” or “report photo.” Great for groups of 10 or more Includes printable instructions. If you receive an invitation to join a pyramid scheme on social media, report it. Home Santa Sack Swap a Christmas Gift Exchange Game with Printable Novemby Katie Adams 4 Comments Plan your own holiday gift exchange with this Santa Sack Swap Exchange Game. Stop and ask, is it worth breaking the law? Report it instead to Canadian agencies or to the U.S. Chain letters involving money or valuable items and promise big returns are illegal. Ignore it! Keep in mind that pyramid schemes are international.So how can you stay safe? The BBB has these recommendations for the next time someone tries to entice you into doing one of these gift exchanges. This information can be used by criminals in future scams or be used to commit identity theft. In addition, the BBB says you never want to give your personal information to strangers online. Postal Inspection Service says 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." Local, Anonymous Discussion Forums - TOPIX, Craigslist alternative/replacement for Fawn Creek Montgomery County. This includes Avera and Preston products with installation and Elfa products excluding installation. "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. Receive 25 off Elfa designed custom spaces and 20 off Avera and Preston designed custom spaces.

Read the BBB Scam Alert: #BBB #Scam #BBBColaChas #bbbscamtracker /gxU5CMIYBx- BBB Serving Central SC and Charleston November 10, 2020 The gift exchange is actually an illegal pyramid scheme in holiday wrapping.

One of the big concerns is that by signing up for this, your name and address could get into the wrong hands.If you have seen the "Secret Sister" scam online, be wary. In 2015, ABC11 asked then-North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper about the "Secret Sister Gift Exchange," and his office also said there are red flags with the gift exchange. The BBB said the "deal" is a digital chain letter, making it an illegal scam.Īccording to the US Postal Inspector, chain letters are a form of gambling that is, "illegal if they request money or other items of value and promise a substantial return to the participants." You only have to buy ONE gift valued at at least $10 or more and send it to ONE secret sister, and you will receive 6-36 in return!" Many are quick to reply that they are 'IN,' while some ladies commented they have tried this in years past and never got a gift. I need at least six ladies to participate in a SECRET SISTER gift exchange. One post states, "Ladies.Anyone interest in a holiday gift exchange? It doesn't matter where you live you are welcome to join. However, that is not stopping the posts from spreading. The Better Business Bureau warns this is not only a scam.
