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MILWAUKEE -- Now that the holidays are here, so are social media posts about a gift exchange that promises you'll get between six and 36 gifts if you participate.
Don't fall for it -- it's a scam!
The same scam surfaced in previous years, too. The so-called "secret sister" gift exchange has circulated widely on Facebook, Reddit, and various forums, according to Snopes. The posts often promise participants 36 gifts in exchange for one present valued at $10.
Snopes pointed out that, despite plentiful comments from people saying they were participating, only a few posted proof of receiving even one gift.
Here’s an example from a post shared this holiday season:
Police departments are again warning social media users about the scam.
The idea behind the “exchange” is similar to chain letter gift exchanges that were popular in the 90s and email chain letters that were common in the early 2000s.
Here's how the exchange is sold to would-be participants:
Despite the probability that most participants will never receive the promised avalanche of holiday gifts, it’s also worth noting that gift chains are illegal.
According to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service:
The Better Business Bureau wrote in a 2016 article that "pyramid schemes are illegal either by mail or on social media if money or other items of value are requested with assurance of a sizeable return for those who participate."
The BBB suggested the following tips to anyone who thinks they've been targeted:
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service offers information about chain letters at www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect, or you can call the Postal Inspection Service toll-free at 1-888-877-7644.