![]() There is another layer of danger to participating in these schemes. Postal Inspection Services explains that these gift exchanges are considered a form of gambling and that participants could be subject to penalties such as jail time, fines, or a lawsuit for mail fraud. It should be noted that pyramid schemes are illegal in the US and Canada. Once people stop participating in the gift exchange, the gift supply stops as well and leaves hundreds of disappointed people without their promised gifts or cash. Just like any other pyramid scheme, it relies on the recruitment of individuals to keep the scam afloat. In all of these versions, you give away your personal information, and you’re left with buying and shipping gifts or money to unknown individuals, in hopes that the favor is reciprocated by receiving the promised number of gifts in return. There was even another new twist called "Secret Santa Dog" where you are asked to buy a $10 gift for a "secret dog." 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.Ī newer twist on the idea asks you to give your e-transfer email and asks users to pick a name off of a list and send money to strangers, to "pay it forward." All you must do is provide your name and address and personal information of a few additional friends, and tack this information onto 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. You might see references to receiving "happy mail" or doing the exchange "for the good of the sisterhood." During the 2022 holiday season, be aware of variations of this theme that may crop up on social media. A newer version of this scam revolves around exchanging bottles of wine another suggests purchasing $10 gifts online.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 several years ago 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. You will receive little to no money back on your “investment” or gift exchange.A "Secret Santa" around the office, or with friends and family can be fun. No matter what they claim, pyramid schemes will not make you rich. This will open you up to identity theft and other scams. Never give your personal information to strangers.If you receive an invitation to join a pyramid scheme on social media, report it. Ignore it! Report it instead to the U.S.Not so sure about something you saw online? Here are some tips from the Better Business Bureau: Postal Inspection Services explains that these gift exchanges are considered a form of gambling and that participants could be subject to penalties such as jail time, fines or a lawsuit for mail fraud," the BBB said. The BBB also reminds consumers that pyramid schemes are illegal in the US and Canada. "With just a few pieces of information, cyber thieves could expose you to future scams or commit identity theft," the BBB said. On top of being scammed out of a gift, consumers are also passing on personal information such as a mailing address or an email. Once people stop participating in the gift exchange, the gift supply stops as well, and leaves hundreds of disappointed people without their promised gifts," the BBB said. Once you supply your contact information and make a post about it online asking more people to join, you're in, right? Then you buy a gift, send it out and wait for your own. "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 BBB said. The BBB said the secret sister gift exchange campaign became popular in 2015 through Facebook posts promising participants would receive up to 36 gifts, in exchange for sending one gift, valued at $10. " These gift exchanges, while they look like innocent fun, are really pyramid schemes – and are considered illegal," the BBB said. The popular scam that kicked off in 2015 promises plenty of gifts, but rarely do people get any. The Better Business Bureau said an online gift exchange among people you haven’t met isn't exactly the same as your office secret Santa or white elephant exchange. Have you seen the posts on Facebook about a secret sister gift exchange? The Better Business Bureau is warning people against it.
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