How to Spot a Chain Letter Scam

Chain letters are unwanted and often unsettling. They are as old as the Pony Express. These letters clog servers and slow down systems and servers that you need to pay your bills, conduct your business or keep in touch with others.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Rememember that the Internet is virtually anonymous. You can send anything from anywhere in the world while claiming to be anyone. Most people will not question your veracity or know how to track you down. The chain letter sender may be a well-intentioned friend. Or he may be a spammer or a hacker, intent on getting your personal information.
2. Look for different types of chain letters, including notes from dying children, foreign refugees and political groups. Most of these are simply annoying, but a few are scams. The most dangerous contain a proposition involving movement of large sums of money requiring a "start-up" investment from you. They typically make reference to poverty, tragic illness or atrocities. They frequently use religion as a hook. They even may include references to large corporations or recognized organizations. They always sound too good to be true, offering excessive returns on your financial investment. These letters require "the willing suspension of disbelief" to pull you into the con.
3. When you get one of these letters, check it out on an independent hoax website. Search for "chain letters" on Snopes or HoaxBusters. You'll be presented with information on the phenomenon as well as the history and lineage of specific letters. Once you've learned how find reliable references, you'll be able to identify future attempts more easily.
4. If you know the person who forwarded the letter to you, let him know that he's forwarded a bogus chain letter and share the address where you found information about it. Then delete the chain letter. Do not forward. Do not bounce it back to the sender. Do not reply to the originator. Do not open any attachments. Sending them on or replying to them may provide an opening for another scam called "phishing."

Tips & Warnings

• Forwarding those prayer-chains that promise something good will happen if you forward the angel to forty of your friends in five minutes almost guarantees that you'll have fewer friends. Say the prayer if you choose, but lose the angel.
• Any attempt to solicit money that uses the U.S. Postal Service to transmit or receive communication is illegal. Report any such attempt if you receive it in an e-mail. Although electronic mail chain letters are not covered by this law, a copy of the e-mail should be given to the postmaster if you are asked to mail a check.
• Real charities don't use broadcast e-mail appeals. They know that chain letters and pyramid schemes are illegal.
• Legitimate charities and non-profit organizations never ask for your social security number, bank account number or other personal information over the Internet. They use secure websites for donations.

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