"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. You will receive little to no money back on your “investment” or gift exchange.įor more information on other scams, visit the BBB ScamTracker.Ĭopyright 2020 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.As the holidays approach, the Better Business Bureau is reminding people No matter what they claim, pyramid schemes will not make you rich. 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. Never give your personal information to strangers.You can report these Facebook posts by clicking in the upper-righthand corner and selecting “report post” or “report photo.” If you receive an invitation to join a pyramid scheme on social media, report it. 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.If someone reaches out to you with this offer on its website, the BBB recommends the following: Postal Inspection Services, these gift exchanges are considered a form of gambling, which leaves participants subject to fines, jail time and even lawsuit for mail fraud. Once people stop participating in the gift exchange, the gift supply stops as well, and leaves hundreds of disappointed people without their promised gifts.”Īccording to the U.S. Just like any other pyramid scheme, it relies on the recruitment of individuals to keep the scam afloat. “The cycle continues and you’re left with buying and shipping gifts for unknown individuals, in hopes that the favor is reciprocated by receiving the promised number of gifts in return. On the BBB website, the organization says: READ: Blessing looms, gifting circles ramping up during pandemic But, according to the Better Business Bureau, it’s illegal - a pyramid scam. Seems fun and who doesn’t like receiving gifts. You are then promised to receive anywhere from 6-36 gifts throughout the holiday season.You then send an email or social media invitation to send a modest gift or bottle of wine to a stranger along with their friends, family and contacts.You provide your name and address and personal information of a few additional friends to a list that’s already started of people you’ve never met on the Internet.You receive an invitation to join either by email or social media. ![]() Secret Sister social media post (Copyright 2020 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.)
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