A piece of mail that
enjoins its
recipient to make a
certain number of copies that will each be sent to a
new
addressee within a specified period. The
number of copies is often between five and ten; the
period
of days is usually less than a week.
Chain letters may offer rewards for perpetuating
the chain and sometimes offer threats if the chain
is broken. The letters may offer luck, money,
or other rewards. Chain letters
are also used to circulate petitions, information,
or requests for charity.
An example of a money-based chain letter: it arrives
with a list of six names
and addresses. You are instructed to make five copies of the letter and send a copy to five people of your acquaintance who are likely to continue the chain. When you make your
copies, you remove the first name from the list and add
your own name at the bottom. You also send
one dollar to the first person on the list, the name
that you removed. If all goes well, you will receive
$15,625 in the mail, and it only cost you a dollar!
Chain letters that involve money, however, are illegal and unlikely to work.