How to Stop a Chain Letter

Stop a Chain Letter

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They're sent from one person to another, with each recipient sending it on to more people in an ever-widening circle. They promise something good will happen if the letter is sent on and promise something bad if it is not. The worst ones are scams, preying on the lonely, the isolated and the naive. They clog servers and spread spyware. They're chain letters and they're no joke.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Recognize the signs of a chain letter. The typical letter promises something wonderful will happen if you forward the letter to friends. It also predicts bad luck if you don't. The letters may appeal to your natural sympathies or core values. They often contain mispelled works or awkward sentence construction and promise great wealth for little or no effort.

Step2

Understand what's behind chain letters. One type asks for your cooperation to get something and promises a great financial reward for a modest investment. The other is a purely malicious prank, warning of dire consequences from a threat of some sort. Both presume that you will buy into the concept of getting something for nothing from a completely anonymous source.

Step3

Delete the chain letter and go on with your life. Do not open any attachments or reply to the originator; he probably has moved on to another internet adress anyway. If you know person who forwarded the email, let her know that she's forwarded a hoax and that you'd rather not receive any more like it.

Step4

If you have the time and inclination, look up the chain letter on one of the websites established by people who research these scams. The good ones have sections on chainletters, virus hoaxes and urban legends. You may also want to forward this information to your friend.

Step5

If the chain letter contains instructions to mail money using snail mail, print a copy and send it to the U.S. Postal Inspector in care of your local post office. Chain letters that use the U.S. Postal Service to solicit or collect funds are illegal. Email is a new tool for an old con.

Tips & Warnings

The best myth-buster websites below are independent. That means they're not selling something and their only mission is to catalog hoaxes.
Unsolicited e-mail that pretends to be a government agency or financial institution and asks for social security or other financial account information is fraudulent. No financial institution would solicit this information over non-secure electonic systems. Report any solicitation to the agency or institution whose name is being used for this scam.
Do not reply to these letters. Acting on them or opening attachments may provide an opening for a worm or another scam called "phishing."

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Comments

mrwrite said

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on 4/21/2008 Step 5 says:"If the chain letter contains instructions to mail money using snail mail or Western Union, print a copy and send it to the U.S. Postal Inspector at your local post office."
Postal Inspectors only get involved with the mail.
NOT Western Union.
The Postal Inspectors cannot be found at a post office.
The main office address is:
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS SERVICE CENTER
ATTN: MAIL FRAUD
222 S. RIVERSIDE PLAZA STE 1250
CHICAGO IL 60606-6100

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