WAUWATOSA, WI (MetroSource-WSAU) – It sounds like a fun, holiday gift-giving idea… you sign up to give a Christmas gift to a stranger, and if you do, a stranger will give a gift to you. Police say the “Secret Sister” gift program is actually an identity theft scam.
Police are warning everyone not to give strangers on the internet your personal information.
Wauwatosa Police say the Secret Sister holiday gift chain making its way online. The Post Office says the gift exchange is also a ponzi scheme. Participants are told that if they buy a $10 gift for a stranger, and add 6 more names to the list, they’ll get up to 36 gifts in return from other people before Christmas. In one version of the scam people are asked to give their addresses and credit card information to cover shipping costs.
Wauwatosa PD say it’s dangerous to offer your private info to people who you don’t know. They also say it’s often difficult or impossible to catch the people who are being online scams.
