Chain letters come through the mail or email and request that you copy and forward the message to a designated amount of people, sometimes claiming that something terrible will happen to you for failure to forward. Those chain letters that request money and promise returns are illegal and should be ignored, as even passing one along is a crime. Claims that chain mail can make you rich are false, so is any claim to government sponsorship or legality. Use common sense when you receive a chain letter--even if it were possible for you to make money this way, you would be taking advantage of strangers and passing along your address.