🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <01bbb7b2$befc7b60$23ca50ce@jivener.asu.uswest.net>, "Jeramy
Ivener" <Jivener@asu.uswest.net> wrote:

> ARE YOU SICK OF MAIL ORDER SCAMS...FALSE PROMISES...JUST WISH THERE WAS
> A
> WAY TO GET RICH QUICK?  
> 
> Well...$$$Take five minutes to read this and it WILL change your
> life.$$$
>                      United States
                       Postal Inspection Service 


                       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 eliminate 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, 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
disseminated 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
investment. 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 product 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." 

This is from http://www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect
   
   --For information on a legitimate long term residual income generating
business, paying a minimum of $500US per week when EARNED--
   Contact elrond@interlog.com

-- 
"Integrity , Honesty , Compassion and Charity  should be the cornerstones of your life" -the Priestess At, circa 25,000 BPE