![BBB Warns Of Returning Secret Sister Christmas Scam](https://townsquare.media/site/150/files/2019/11/RS28810_ThinkstockPhotos-616901350-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
BBB Warns Of Returning Secret Sister Christmas Scam
It seems like scammers are not exactly in the Christmas spirit. The Better Business Bureau is warning everyone about a returning scam, better known as the 'Secret Sister' scam.
It first popped up on Facebook in 2015, when scammers started recruiting social media users to join a giant secret Santa gift exchange with people they'd never met. The scam hasn't really gone anywhere since.
According to the BBB, scammers ask for your name, address and some information about your friends. From there, you're asked to send a modest gift to a stranger, valued at ten dollars. In return, you're promised 36 different gifts when all is said and done.
Obviously, the gifts you're promised never arrive, yet you've spent money purchasing gifts for other people. Sometimes, scammers even get members of the fake gift exchange to send several different gifts for several different people as the circle continues.
The BBB says this type of scam is not only awful, but it is illegal as well. Thankfully they have some advice to avoid becoming a victim:
- Don't partake in any sort of online gift exchange with anyone you haven't met. Just ignore it.
- Report this scam or anything else remotely fishy to Facebook.
- Do not give our your personal information online to strangers.
- Be aware of claims that something is 'government backed' because usually, this is also a scam.
![MIX 108 logo](https://townsquare.media/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/KBMXFM.png?w=100)
More From MIX 108
![Northern Minnesota Police Department Warns Of Counterfeit Bills Being Used](http://townsquare.media/site/164/files/2024/07/attachment-CounterfeitVirginiaFeature.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Toddler Hospitalized After Slashed by Pizza Cutter During Assault at Rochester Child Care Center](http://townsquare.media/site/669/files/2024/06/attachment-2024-06-14_09-32-46.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![How Rare Is Rain On Christmas? This Year’s Forecasted Rain Could Make History In Duluth](http://townsquare.media/site/164/files/2023/12/attachment-RainyChristmas.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![What If? How Much Snow Would We Have Gotten If This December Rain Fell As Snow?](http://townsquare.media/site/164/files/2023/12/attachment-evelin-horvath-QujZWOfJmw4-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Single And Looking For A Man? This Minnesota City Has Most Single Men In The U.S.](http://townsquare.media/site/164/files/2023/02/attachment-GettyImages-1426450692.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Superior Residents Can Now Report Incidents To Police Online](http://townsquare.media/site/164/files/2022/03/attachment-RS40112_DSC_5976-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![10 Duluth-Themed Gifts Available on Etsy](http://townsquare.media/site/164/files/2021/02/Duluth-MN-Map-Rocks-Whiskey-Glass-Gift.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![BBB Warns Of Online Romance Scam Ahead Of Valentine’s Day](http://townsquare.media/site/150/files/2021/02/RS23994_GettyImages-1065782388-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Better Business Bureau: Don’t Fall For New Zoom Phishing Scam](http://townsquare.media/site/150/files/2020/12/RS40721_GettyImages-1155385511-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)