CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Each holiday season, scams make their rounds geared at taking advantage of consumers.
The latest to emerge on social media is The Secret Sister Scam. It encourages Facebook users to take part in exchange for receiving dozens of gifts in return. But it's just a scheme and folks with the Better Business Bureau warm beware.
"The Secret Sister Scam is something that's been circulating on Facebook for the last few years," said Katie Galan with the Better Business Bureau. "If you're on Facebook you've seen it as well. It taken a few forms and what we've seen is if you provide your email address, your name and your home address you can receive up to 36 gifts from other people. All you have to do is provide information for some other friends of yours."
According to Galan, "This is a pyramid scheme, which pyramid schemes are illegal in the United States. What it is is that you're going to recruit all of these different people in exchange for receiving something. in this case it's a gift. They're also saying you might receive a gift card or some wine in the mail."
She says just steer clear of the scam by not paying any attention to folks you don't know.
"Just ignore it," Galan said. "Only participate with your very close friends and family. just do the normal holiday gift exchange with people you know and trust."
If you have a question or concern about a business or a scam, contact the Better Business Bureau for more.
