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It’s the holiday season again, and that means people are shopping, eating, and spending time with their loved ones. And of course, scammers are ready to take advantage of people during this vulnerable time.
Authorities are warning the public about a ‘secret sister’ scam that is going viral on Facebook. Some social media users may already recognize this scam because others have attempted to use similar scams in the past.
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The ‘secret sister’ scam functions as a pyramid scheme because it basically promises people large returns for a small investment.
Facebook users who are targeted may get a message saying that they need to find 6 people and that each should send a $10 gift to their ‘secret sister.’ They’re told that if they do this, they can get anywhere from 6 to 36 gifts for their contribution.
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The Better Business Bureau is already aware of the scam and has been warning people about it. Email messages tend to look like this:
“The Secret Sister gift exchange is back! I’m looking for six women who would be interested in a pre-holiday gift exchange. You only have to buy one $10 gift and send it to your secret sister. You will then receive 6-36 gifts in return. Let me know if you’re interested and I will send you the information for your secret sister. We all could use some happy mail!”
Inevitably, whoever starts the scam gets gifts, and as more people join (if they do), they get less or nothing. Also, to be clear, this is a form of illegal chain letter/pyramid scheme, so you really shouldn’t be participating – especially if they ask for any of your personal information.
Scams can occur at any time of the year, but it’s important to be vigilant during the holidays. Watch out for anything fishy before participating in any online gift exchanges, and you should be all right.
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Had you heard of the ‘secret sister’ exchange before? Share what you think of this chain message below!
