A chain letter
is a "get rich quick" scheme that promises that your mail
box will soon be stuffed full of cash if you decide to participate.
You're told you can make thousands of dollars every month if you follow
the detailed instructions in the letter.
A typical chain
letter includes names and addresses of several individuals whom you
may or may not know. You are instructed to send a certain amount of
money--usually $5--to the person at the top of the list, and then
eliminate that name and add yours to the bottom. You are then instructed
to mail copies of the letter to a few more individuals who will hopefully
repeat the entire process. The letter promises that if they follow
the same procedure, your name will gradually move to the top of the
list and you'll receive money -- lots of it.
There's at least
one problem with chain letters. They're illegal if they request money
or other items of value and promise a substantial return to the participants.
Chain letters are a form of gambling, and sending them through the
mail (or delivering them in person or by computer, but mailing money
to participate) violates Title 18, United States Code, Section 1302,
the Postal Lottery Statute. (Chain letters that ask for items of minor
value, like picture postcards or recipes, may be mailed, since such
items are not things of value within the meaning of the law.)
Recently, high-tech
chain letters have begun surfacing. They may be disseminated over
the Internet, or may require the copying and mailing of computer disks
rather than paper. Regardless of what technology is used to advance
the scheme, if the mail is used at any step along the way, it is still
illegal.
The main thing
to remember is that a chain letter is simply a bad investment. You
certainly won't get rich. You will receive little or no money. The
few dollars you may get will probably not be as much as you spend
making and mailing copies of the chain letter.
Chain letters
don't work because the promise that all participants in a chain letter
will be winners is mathematically impossible. Also, many people participate,
but do not send money to the person at the top of the list. Some others
create a chain letter that lists their name numerous times--in various
forms with different addressee. So, in reality, all the money in a
chain is going to one person.
Do not be fooled
if the chain letter is used to sell inexpensive reports on credit,
mail order sales, mailing lists, or other topics. The primary purpose
is to take your money, not to sell information. "Selling"
a product does not ensure legality. Be doubly suspicious if there's
a claim that the U.S. Postal Service or U.S. Postal Inspection Service
has declared the letter legal. This is said only to mislead you. Neither
the Postal Service nor Postal Inspectors give prior approval to any
chain letter.
Participating
in a chain letter is a losing proposition. Turn over any chain letter
you receive that asks for money or other items of value to your local
postmaster or nearest Postal Inspector. Write on the mailing envelope
of the letter or in a separate transmittal letter, "I received
this in the mail and believe it may be illegal."
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