BBB Warns: Secret Sister Scam Is Back

With Christmas right around the corner, you may begin to see Facebook posts about a gift exchange program, called “Secret Sister.” The post will most likely be by someone you know and trust and will be worded in such a manner as to seem perfectly innocent.

A typical post will look something like these:

Who doesn’t like to get gifts in the mail, it sounds like a pretty awesome way to get tons of goodies, doesn’t it? It’s all part of what’s known as the “Secret Sister Gift Exchange,”and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has released a public warning about this illegal pyramid scam.

According 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.”

One of the big concerns is that by signing up for this, your name and address could get into the wrong hands, that should be the major red flag that can lead to potential issues down the road. It is recommended that if you’ve already joined the gift exchange, keep an eye on your identity and be extra cautious.