David P. Willis

@dpwillis732

Santa is not a scammer.

But he's not the one behind an email scam offering "letters from Santa." According to a bulletin by the Better Business Bureau, some websites offer letters from the big guy in the red suit. But instead of a note, you get nothing but trouble.

Here's how it works, according to the Better Business Bureau.

The email is trying to sell you a "handwritten letter from Santa to your child." You can purchase "Santa's special package." Sounds like fun and it's only $19.99.

"The site promises the special package contains an 'official' nice-list certification and customized letter from Santa. There's even a free shipping special that ends (not coincidentally) in just few hours," the bureau said.

Fraudsters try to create a sense of urgency to get you to act without thinking first.

Falling for this scam by entering your credit card information means you will, at the very least, lose your $19.99. But you also shared your key credit card details that scammers who can use for identity theft, the BBB said.

That's one way to ruin your Christmas.

In another version of the scam, a letter from Santa is free. But you have to enter personal information, such as your name, address and telephone number, which can be sold to spammers.

David P. Willis: 732-643-4039; dwillis@app.com; facebook.com/dpwillis732