Online scammers are back with their most successful Christmas scams, the "Secret Sister" gift exchange, police say.
The scam, which appears on Facebook, asks for "six ladies to participate in a Secret Sister gift exchange." In return for mailing a $10 gift to a "secret sister," a participant gets between six and 36 gifts in return, the ad promises. For SOME, the gifts never arrive.
According to the Better Business Bureau, "This is a typical pyramid scheme. Pyramid schemes are illegal if money or other items of value are requested with assurance of a sizable return for those who participate."
The Better Business Bureau is reminding people that emails or online posts that promise a big return for a small investment never pan out, and you're breaking the law if you pass on the message to other users. The best thing to do is simply ignore them, police say.