BBB: Careful what you send Santa online

GRANDVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) - Alayah Barron wrapped her little fingers around a red crayon and carefully wrote, as well as a 3-year-old can, her wish list to Santa.

"She always talks about Santa," said her mother, Brittney Barron. "Everyday she wakes up she's like, 'Is it time to open up presents yet? Did he come, did he come?'"

Thousands of kids, like Alayah, mailed their letter to Santa the old-fashioned way.

But many online sites allow kids to send St. Nick an email, and some -- for a fee -- will send a reply from Santa.

But the Better Business Bureau warns going high-tech with Santa could be risky if you don't know what information your child is sending over the Internet, or from whom they're getting responses.

Websites that reach out to childern, the BBB maintains, should have a privacy policy that explains the site's information collection practices. Make sure the site includes the name of the company and complete contact information - including an actual address and telephone number.

But some, like Ellen Funkhouser, say kids should be writing to Santa the old-fashioned way.

"Writing it and making your list of all the things you want Santa to bring you and put it in your mailbox, I think, that's more of a fun way to do it instead of just clicking online."

Alayah's mom would rather play it safe, too.

"I wouldn't really do it online just because of everything that happens, you don't really  know who they're sending it to or who they're talking to.  So I would definitely like it like this better."