paste text hereThe “Secret Sister” gift exchange resurfaces every holiday season, spreading rapidly through social media and email. While it’s often presented as a fun, low-cost way to receive dozens of gifts, it is actually an illegal chain letter and pyramid scheme.

Participants are instructed to send a gift to someone they don’t know, pass the list along, and expect multiple gifts in return. In reality, the structure is mathematically unsustainable and guaranteed to collapse, leaving most participants with nothing. Worse, some versions require sharing personal information, increasing the risk of identity theft and further scams. Participation can also violate social media platform policies, potentially resulting in account suspension or removal.