Question: A Facebook friend invited me to join a Secret Sister Gift Exchange. It seems like it would be fun, but are there any issues I should be concerned about? Answer: Sorry to be a Scrooge, but according to the Better Business Bureau, those Secret Sister Gift Exchanges are actually pyramid schemes, so don’t respond to your friend’s Facebook post! The scheme starts with a convincing invitation, either by email or social media, to sign up for what seems like a great, fun program. All you must do is provide your name and address plus the personal information for a few additional friends, and add this information to a list that’s already started of people you’ve never met on the internet. Next, it’s your turn to send an email or social media invitation to send a modest gift to a stranger along with their friends, family, and contacts. The cycle continues and you’re left with buying and shipping gifts for unknown individuals, in hopes that the favor is reciprocated by receiving the promised number of gifts in return. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen. Just like any other pyramid scheme, it relies on the recruitment of individuals to keep the scam afloat. Once people stop participating in the gift exchange, the gift supply stops as well, and leaves hundreds of disappointed people without their promised gifts. It also leaves participants vulnerable to cyber thieves who could use the personal information in future scams.

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		You’re probably familiar with phishing emails, where a scammer claims to be from your bank or a government agency and tries to trick you into giving them personal information. Well, the same type of fraudulent activity is also happening via text message. You might see a text on your phone asking you to click a link and visit a website to “unlock” or “verify” your account. Don’t do it! The scammers could be after your password, account number, or Social Security number. Other strategies scammers use to “rope you in” include a promise of free prizes, gift cards, or coupons; an offer of a no-interest or low-interest credit card; or a promise to help you pay off your student loans. Scammers may also send text messages that say something like this: They’ve noticed some suspicious activity on your account. There’s a problem with your payment information. Here’s an invoice and contact us if you didn’t authorize the purchase. If you get a text message that you weren’t expecting and it asks you to give personal information, don’t click on any links. Legitimate companies won’t ask for information about your account by text. Here are a few other things you can do: Slow down: Often times acting too quickly when you receive these messages can result in an error. The scammers want you to feel confused and rushed. So remember to slow down and not fall into the trap of providing an immediate response. Delete the text: Don’t risk accidentally replying to or saving that content on your phone. If you’re going to report the text, take a screen shot for posterity. But then delete it. Report it: You can report any suspected phishing directly to your carrier or to the FTC through their complaint assistant. In addition to staying vigilant about text phishing, there are ways you can filter unwanted text messages or stop them before they reach you. For example, your phone may have an option to filter and block messages from unknown senders or spam. There are also call-blocking apps that let you block unwanted text messages. To learn more, visit the website for CTIA, the wireless industry association.