Every time you turn around these days someone has their hands in your pocket. The newest is the ‘Secret Sister Gift Exchange’.

This one has been popping up on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. It’s a total hoax.

Think of it as a modern day digital chain letter.

Forbes magazine reports that the scam works like this:

Here are the steps that users are asked to follow as part of the hoax:

1.) Send one gift value at least $10 to secret sister #1 below.
2.) Remove secret sister’s name from #1; then move secret sister #2 to that spot.
3.) Add your name to #2 with your info.
4.) Then send this info to 6 other ladies with the updated name info
5.) Copy the secret sister request that I posted on my wall, to your own wall. If you cannot complete this within 1 week please notify me, as it isn’t fair to the ladies who have participated and are waiting for their own gifts to arrive. You might want to order directly from a web-based service (Amazon, or any other online shop) which saves a trip to the post office. Soon you should receive 36 gifts!

Yeah right...36 Gifts, I don't think so.

The US Postal Service says that chain letters are a pyramid scheme and are illegal and these schemes have been around for years.

Here are samples

You can easily spot a hoax if the sender requests money or other items of value and promise a substantial return to the participants.

Remember, nothing in life is free!

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