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. Next, it’s your turn to 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. All you must do is provide your name and address and personal information of a few additional friends, and tack this information on to a list that’s already started of people you’ve never met on the internet. The scheme starts with a convincing invitation, either by email or social media to sign up for what seems like a great, fun program. That's my excuse for everything!!! ” Remember, scammers are smart and know what to say to get you to do what they want. You might see references to receiving "happy mail" or doing the exchange "for the good of the sisterhood."Ģ020’s spin on this scam begins with “If there’s EVER been a year we need random fun presents to come in the mail IT’S 2020!!!!!!” And then includes “*And Grinches who say this is a scam. A newer version of this scam revolves around exchanging bottles of wine another suggests purchasing $10 gifts online. Each holiday season the scheme pops back up. 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. These gift exchanges, while they look like innocent fun, are really pyramid schemes – and are considered illegal. A gift exchange among online friends you haven’t met, well, that’s a little different and carries a heftier consequence. (Chain letters that ask for items of minor value, like picture postcards or recipes, may be mailed, since such items are not things of value within the meaning of the law.Better Business Bureau serving Canton Region and Greater West Virginia offers tips and advice for consumers to avoid fraudulent practices.Ī "Secret Santa" around the office, or with friends and family can be fun. Chain letters are a form of gambling, and sending them through the mail (or delivering them in person or by computer, but mailing money to participate) violates Title 18, United States Code, Section 1302, the Postal Lottery Statute. They’re illegal if they request money or other items of value and promise a substantial return to the participants. “There’s at least one problem with chain letters. Postal Inspection Service has this guidance: If you are invited to take part in the secret sister gift exchange, you can report it to Facebook. “It would be easier to go down to the local store and purchase something for $10 and wrap it and give it to them.” If you want to do a gift exchange, the chief suggests doing one through work or with friends you personally know. “My cousin has it on hers and I thought, OK, I’m not going to do it, though, because I don’t know half the people.” Rebecca Kurtz of Lewisburg saw it on Facebook but thought it was questionable. The secret sister gift exchange was popular in 2015 and is making the rounds again. Police in Tennessee also posted a warning to their Facebook page this year: “Sending your private information to somewhere where you have no idea where it’s going to go is very foolish,” the chief said. The United States Post Office considers this a chain letter which is a form of gambling. The post asks you to mail a gift to someone on a list add your name and address to the list and you’ll get gifts in return.Ĭhief Gill says it’s illegal. “You have no idea who you’re giving that information to, so ultimately what you’re setting yourself up for is identity theft,” said Danville Police Chief Eric Gill. According to investigators, the secret sister gift exchange is a scam. It seemed like this original thing.”īut it’s not an original thing. “The girl who tagged me in it is pretty reliable and is really nice, so it seemed like something she came up with. “At first when I read it, I thought it was pretty cool,” said Coller. The secret sister gift exchange promises that if you buy one $10 gift for someone and add your name to a list, you’ll get between six and 36 gifts in the mail.Īuthorities say it’s too good to be true and illegal.Ĭaitlin Coller of Danville, Pennsylvania, was tagged in a Facebook post. Police are warning people about the “secret sister gift exchange” currently making the rounds on social media, including Facebook. Now that the holiday season is here again, so is a familiar holiday scam. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated.
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