A chain letter is a widely distributed letter that directly requests the recipient to keep it in circulation. While some chain letters contain a seemingly innocent request, like forwarding an email message to a certain number of people to ensure good luck, others may be threatening or scary chain letters that use fear to get the receiver to pass the message along.
In addition to traditional paper letters, chain letters may also take the form of e-mails. In fact, social networking sites like Myspace.com are becoming popular arenas for the distribution of chain letters.
While well-wishing and scary chain letters are annoying to receive, the sender is not breaking any laws. Chain letters requesting you to send money or an item of substantial value to someone on a list, however, is considered gambling and is, therefore, illegal. If the chain letter was sent by regular postal mail, or you participate and send money as requested via regular postal mail, you have become the victim of a scam.
The best response to chain letters is none at all. Toss them in the trash or delete them from your e-mail. Don''t worry about luck, good or bad, and forget about getting rich quick.
Worried about disappointing that sick kid trying to collect the most email messages and get into the Guinness Book of World Records? Many variations on this popular Myspace chain letter have been found to be false. In some cases, charities like the Make-A-Wish foundation are mentioned as a sponsor. As a result, instead of devoting their time to helping sick children truly in need, some legitimate companies and charities have to spend time and money educating the public about these fraudulent letters.
New chain letters are created every day, but you can do something to stop the clutter you receive, especially if it''s an illegal chain letter.Here are some tips to stop chain letters from flooding your inbox:
Federal Trade Commission (n.d.). The Lowdown on Chain Letters. Retrieved March 17, 2008, from the OU.edu Web site.