Sierra Tel Internet - Media Releases

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Press Contact:

Shann Conner
Sierra Tel Internet
559-683-7600 x255
marketing@sti.net

Breaking the Chain on Email Chain Letters
February 1, 2005

Everybody's received them before -- chain letters or email messages that promise you a big return for just a small investment. The problem is that not only will you receive little or no money on your "investment," but it is against the law to send or participate in a chain letter scheme.
According to STI and Cornerstone Publishing, the most common type of chain letter sent by email instructs the recipient to send a small amount of money ($5 is the norm) to the person at the top of a list of ten people. The recipient is then instructed to remove the top name from the email list contained within the message and then forward the email to ten of their friends. The theory is that by the time the recipient's name gets to the top of the list, he/she will receive $5 bills from thousands of chain letter participants. Of course, many times the letter includes a strong warning not to "break the chain" or something bad will happen to the recipient. Also included in the message is a promise of riches within 90 days or so. Yeah, right!

Some things to remember about email chain letters:
• It is illegal to start or send a chain letter that promises recipients money or valuable items in return.
• Many chain letters claim to be legal and even endorsed by the government. This is not true.
• Despite the claims of email chain letters, they will not make you rich.
• If you've been the target of a chain letter sent via email, forward the email message to the Federal Trade Commission at uce@ftc.gov.
Break the chain. Do not participate in email chain letters. Your friends and loved ones will thank you.

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