" FROM THE UNITED STATES POSTMASTER GENERAL:

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Chain Letters

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 elim-
inate 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, are 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 dis-
seminated 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 invest-
ment. 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 prod-
uct 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."