Hey xxxxx, hope its all fun and excitement with countdown to big holiday and xmas. Gift exchange whether at work or school, december is the season for gift exchanges and scammers want to get in on the action. Now that the holidays are here, so are social media posts about a gift exchange that promises youll get between 6 and 36 gifts if you. However, the better business bureau warns that the seemingly. Warning facebooks secret sister gift exchange is a scam.
Travel prize scams are attempts to trick you into parting with your money to claim a reward such as a free or discounted holiday. Sorry to be a grinch, but that viral facebook post going around about a gift exchange is against the law. Dont fall for these viral holiday gift exchange scams on facebook. The book exchange idea on facebook has characteristics of a. As is my wont during the exam season, i was scrolling through my facebook news feed when i noticed numerous posts which said. In fact, in england and wales alone, there have been over 6 million cybercrimes committed in the last 12 months while we cant tell you about every scam in the book, the list below are some of the more common things to look out for. And i got the satisfaction of knowing that i gave a child a book. Fraudsters are sending out what look like digital holiday cards. If you need any further help then pop over to the lay my hat forum. Say a friend on facebook invites you to join in a holiday gift exchange. Secret sister gift exchange on facebook is a scam, says bbb. Posts currently circulating on facebook are inviting users to join a secret wine bottle exchange. Beware of this holiday gift exchange scam circulating on. One pyramid scam often seen around this season involves a viral social media post about joining in a secret holiday gift exchange.
Secret sister the secret sister gift exchange is a viral social media campaign targeting facebook users. All you have to do is buy one of your favorite books and send it to one person. The biggest secret about the secret sister gift exchange invitation that has been blowing up facebook since october. Police are warning people about the secret sister gift exchange currently making the rounds on social media, including. Five common holiday scams to avoid in 2019 thinkglink. Send a new and exciting book that the family is less likely to own already. Facebook post claims that you can win a holiday supplied by uk based holiday company first choice by adding a comment and clicking a link to enter. Holiday season is prime time for scammers and identity thieves who hope to cash out as people become preoccupied with giftbuying, festivities and travel. It sounds like a fun secret santalike gift exchange, but its actually a pyramid scheme in disguise.
Try to think of a book that is a family favorite in your house, and have fun sharing it with another family. Facebooks secret sister gift exchange is a scam and. Do a quick search on facebook for secret sisters gift exchange and you will see thousands of posts about the gift exchange. The 36 books for 1 book exchange pyramid scheme debunked. No one is going to get 36 books out of this nonsense. The post comes from a facebook page called first choice uk. The book exchange idea on facebook has characteristics of a chain letter and pyramid scheme.
This secret sisters gift exchange hoax is scamming the internet. By doing so, claim the posts, participants will each receive between 6 and 36 bottles of wine in return. The better business bureau warned people last year about a seemingly fun secret santa gift exchange thats actually a pyramid scam and illegal, but it looks like the message didnt stick. Secret wine bottle exchange scheme hitting facebook. Tis the season for holiday phone scams callersmart. The post is fraudulent as is the associated facebook page. Warning facebooks secret sister gift exchange is a scam danville now that the holiday season is here again, so is a familiar holiday. Right now, three specific facebook scams are rampant, and if my news feed is any indication, normally smart people are falling for them. Secret sister gift exchange is a scam, the better business bureau. Dont book a holiday with a scammer 5 december 2016 the acccs scamwatch has received over 150 reports about scams on sharing. Facebook users enmired in like and share fake giveaways not only unwittingly help spammers litter the social network with scams, they may also risk being exposed to malware, clickjacking, or other. That holiday gift exchange facebook post is technically an illegal scam a gift exchange post going around on facebook could land you on santas naughty list and in trouble with the law. Suess and sandra boynton books from your shopping list. Just wondering if you would you be interested in being part of a book exchange.
A screenshot shows one version of a secret sister post on facebook. Dont fall for these viral holiday gift exchange scams on. The latest names being used by the phishing scammer to beware of are. I figure its just a bit of fun leading into xmas and a lovely way to spoil kids with. The holiday facebook scam thats already making the rounds.
That popular book exchange on facebook is terrible, deceptive, and probably illegal. Facebook users are being warned about a pyramid scheme thats being disguised as a holiday gift exchange online. Never expected the old school chain mail type scams to make it to facebook. This secret sisters gift exchange hoax is scamming the. Police warn against return of gift exchange scam by jason murdock on 1118 at 11. These have gone on forever, though ive never seen a book variant before.
Holiday scam targets facebook with gift exchanges video. Facebookscreenshot how is it possible to send one bottle and potentially get 36 in. It promises that if you buy one gift for a stranger, you in turn will receive as many as 36 gifts back. Why that book exchange where you send 1 to get 36 could be. The game, which is taking over social media, is an online gift exchange called secret sister. Secret sister is a chain lettertype gift exchange pyramid scheme that has been primarily spread through facebook. Scam advice for holiday home owners independent cottages. Have you seen the posts on facebook about a secret sister gift exchange. Multiple police departments have started warning folks on facebook about the viral secret sister gift exchange scam thats reappeared on friends newsfeeds every holiday season since 2015.
Up next, the big holiday scam targeting facebook users, the better business bureau is issuing an urgent warning saying a gift exchange in your news feed may not be what you think and becky worley. The better business bureau is warning people against it. The holiday season is almost in full swing and just like every year, expect to see those pesky gift exchange posts from your facebook friends. Discounts that seem too steep also may point to a scam. The 36 books for 1 book exchange pyramid scheme debunked by craig charles on november 9, 2015. Facebook screenshot how is it possible to send one bottle and potentially get 36 in. The eholiday card scam any scam is awful, but this one may take the cake for the meanest. Now that the holiday season is here again, so is a familiar holiday scam. Scammers are using the grandparent scam, which tries to convince grandparents that their grandchildren are in danger, but instead of demanding payment via wire transfer or moneygram, the scammers are instructing their victims to go to their local cvs or rite aid and buy thousands of dollars worth of gift cards to pay. Here are 4 facebook scams to be aware of during this holiday season.
Beware of websites that list no phone numbers or street address only an email address or p. Chances are youve seen friends post on facebook about the secret sister gift exchange, and, in case you havent already heard, its a scam. Facebook the scam, which became popular in late 2015, is a pyramid scheme posing as holiday fun. First choice uk holiday prize facebook page is a scam. And be on the alert for sites that lack a return policy or whose purchase pages start with versus the more secure s format. I am looking for 6 or more ladies who would be interested in a holiday gift exchange. Theres also a similar post going around focused on a book exchange for kids, but the basic premise is.
Holidaymakers warned to beware internet booking scams. If my child received zero books from this, he would not be cheated out of anything because he did not pay for the book. The latest phishing scam affecting holiday cottage owners. Top 5 holiday scams to watch out for this year huffpost. The social media site is host to a longrunning holiday scam disguised as a secret santa program. Seriously, let the world have some good in it lady. Beware of the latest phishing scam sarah jarvis post author 21 may, 2015 at 3. On top of being extremely cautious about sharing personal information, especially online, being wellinformed of the strategies scammers use can help americans avoid being scammed this holiday season. That holiday gift exchange facebook post is technically. The book exchange where you send 1 to get 36 probably wont work. The note that has made the rounds on social media promising. Its full of helpful holiday home owners who have seen most scams and there is a scam email section where you can post details of any enquiry that you are unsure about. The holiday season is officially here and scammers are back in full force to try to take advantage of the gift giving season.
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