What are chain letters?
- Chain letters are a type of pyramid scam, where the scam is reshared by and expanded as a chain reaction while all the goods are fed to the person at the top of the pyramid - the scammer. Chain letters may also be used by scammers as a sort of game, rather than a means to obtain money, as these scams generally cause many people a great deal of annoyance, and play with the emotions of whoever falls for the scheme.
- Chain letters can arrive by email, text, social media post and mail, as well as any other literary form of communication.
- They include messages designed to encourage the recipient to pass it on to as many a number of others as possible. These messages often persuade recipients to share the message by promising a reward or inducing threats. More commonly among chain letters aimed to teenagers, you would find that the message contains a tragic back story, followed by a promise of wealth or good or bad fortune. This is not always the case - a chain letter may advertise a certain product and trick you into sharing and buying the product for an unreasonable price. It may also ask for some money to be sent, promising a greater amount in return. It may also attempt to convince you to donate money to a false entity.
- Messages found in chain letters generally fabricate a claim aimed to gain an audience's sympathy and/or cooperation. In extreme cases, victims are scammed out of their own money through chain letters.
- Some chain letters contain viruses that automatically send it to your contacts upon clicking on it. Chain letters containing viruses also have an adverse effect on the device with which you are viewing the letter.
- Chain letters can arrive by email, text, social media post and mail, as well as any other literary form of communication.
- They include messages designed to encourage the recipient to pass it on to as many a number of others as possible. These messages often persuade recipients to share the message by promising a reward or inducing threats. More commonly among chain letters aimed to teenagers, you would find that the message contains a tragic back story, followed by a promise of wealth or good or bad fortune. This is not always the case - a chain letter may advertise a certain product and trick you into sharing and buying the product for an unreasonable price. It may also ask for some money to be sent, promising a greater amount in return. It may also attempt to convince you to donate money to a false entity.
- Messages found in chain letters generally fabricate a claim aimed to gain an audience's sympathy and/or cooperation. In extreme cases, victims are scammed out of their own money through chain letters.
- Some chain letters contain viruses that automatically send it to your contacts upon clicking on it. Chain letters containing viruses also have an adverse effect on the device with which you are viewing the letter.