Facebook “Secret Sister Gift Exchange” Is A Scam

November 5, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – That Facebook “Secret Sister Gift Exchange” that sounds so cute and appealing? Yep, it’s a scam.

Website Onlinethreatalerts.com said: “The gift exchange promises participants 36 gifts in exchange for one $10 contribution, if they follow the instructions in the gift exchange scheme. But, like every pyramid scheme, most of the participants will receive nothing. The persons behind the scheme may list their names numerous times, in various forms with different addresses, therefore, all the gifts in the chain will go to them. The primary purpose of the scheme is take as many gifts as possible and convert some to cash by selling them, and keep the rest.

“Recently, chain letters have begun surfacing, but this time, technology like the internet is used instead of paper. But, regardless of what technology is used to distribute the chain letters, it is still illegal if request for items of value or money are promised for something substantial in return for participating, because it is a form of gambling.”

This is how the Facebook “Secret Sister Gift Exchange” works:

“Welcome to our secret sister gift exchange! Here’s how it works:

1) Send one gift value at least $10 to secret sister #1 below.
2) Remove secret sister’s name from #1; then move secret sister #2 to that spot.
3) Add your name to #2 with your info.
4) Then send this info to 6 other ladies with the updated name info
5) Copy the secret sister request that I posted on my wall, to your own wall. If you cannot complete this within 1 week please notify me, as it isn’t fair to the ladies who have participated and are waiting for their own gifts to arrive. You might want to order directly from a web-based service (Amazon, or any other online shop) which saves a trip to the post office. Soon you should receive 36 gifts! What a deal, 36 gifts for giving just one! Be sure to include some information about yourself … some of your favorites. Seldom does anyone drop out because it’s so much fun to send a gift to someone you may or may not know … and of course it’s fun to receive. You should begin receiving gifts in about 2 weeks if you get your letters out to your 6 people right away.”

The website continues: “Remember, Facebook “Secret Sister Gift Exchange” chain letter pyramid scheme is not the first and will surely not be the last. So, internet users should be careful when participating in certain activities online, especially when money, gifts and other items of value are involved.”

For more information about chain letter pyramid schemes, please click here.