Secret Sister' gift exchange is illegal
The 'Secret Sister' gift exchange campaign quickly became popular several years ago through Facebook posts promising participants would receive up to 36 gifts in exchange for sending one gift. Each holiday season, the scheme pops back up. One version of this scam revolves around exchanging bottles of wine or bourbon; another suggests purchasing $10 gifts online. You might see references to receiving "happy mail" or doing the exchange "for the good of the sisterhood." During the 2024 holiday season, be aware of variations of this theme that may crop up on social media. How this scam works The scheme starts with a convincing invitation, either by email or social media, to sign up for a great, fun program. All you must do is provide your name and address and the personal information of a few additional friends and tack this information onto a list that's already started of people you've never met on the internet. Next, it's your turn to send an em...