“Secret Santa” and “Secret Sister” scams are popular on social media. They are often disguised as a fun holiday exchange, when in reality, they can turn into a scam costing money, your personal information, and heartache during the holidays. This type of scam works by requesting that participants send online “friends” relatively inexpensive gifts, gift cards or money to those on an email or social media chain, with the promise that you, too, will receive gifts in the exchange. At the very least, participants will spend money and send gifts without getting anything in return. At worst, scammers will use personal information posted on social media, often leading to identity theft.
“It may seem harmless to participate in an online gift exchange, but always remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “There are scammers online looking to take advantage of Arkansans’ good nature and consumers should carefully protect their wallet and personal information.”
Here are 6 tips for consumers to avoid the “Secret Santa” and “Secret Sister” scam:
- Never give your personal information to an unknown person online. It could result in identity theft or the opening of other accounts in your name.
- It is unlikely that a consumer will receive any gifts in response to such a scheme; if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
- Consult the terms of use for Facebook and other social media platforms to see if they prohibit such schemes. If so, report the scams to the social media platform.
- Review guidance from the U.S. Postal Service since it may actually be illegal to send the requested gift cards.
- Always safeguard your banking and financial information to prevent theft due to scams.
- When using the internet, make sure you’re using a verified, secure, and encrypted website when sharing any personal or financial information online.
For more information about consumer-related issues, contact the Arkansas Attorney General’s office at [email protected] or visit ArkansasAG.gov.