From af380@chebucto.ns.ca Thu Oct 8 10:11:46 1998 Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1998 10:11:46 -0300 (ADT) From: "Norman L. DeForest" Reply-To: "Norman L. DeForest" To: KTV Subject: Re: Illegal pyramid scheme, "MONEY AND FUN!!!" (fwd) In-Reply-To: <004201bdf2b8$257b8c40$4512c9cc@default> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: O X-Status: On Thu, 8 Oct 1998, KTV wrote: > Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1998 05:32:38 -0700 > From: KTV > To: "Norman L. DeForest" > Subject: Re: Illegal pyramid scheme, "MONEY AND FUN!!!" (fwd) > > First of all i would like to know how this money making program is illegal. > I am selling something and people can choose to buy it or not but it at > their discression. Making money on the internet is just another way to make > money just as if i were selling these reports on the street. OK, here is a direct quote from the website of the United States Postal Service at: http://www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect/chainlet.htm (As seen by the lynx text-only browser.) Inspection Service Seal 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." Take note of the second last paragraph above. > I would thank you not to send replies of this threatening nature to me or There were NO threats in my message whatsoever. > anyone else involved in sales strategies such as this. This program, when > introduced to me was shown as being legal and completely legitimate. If you > had taken time to read the instructions, you would have seen that for > yourself and maybe even decided to participate. > Thank you again for your unwanted and completely rude email. > -- Concerned salesperson > -----Original Message----- [snip] > >http://www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect/chainlet.htm or > >http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/1302.html . > > > >It is also in violation of Section 206 (1) (e) of the Criminal Code of > >Canada which you can see at > >http://insight.mcmaster.ca/org/efc/pages/law/cc/cc-text.html . [snip] Besides the above addresses, you might also want to check out the Competition Act of Canada at the Justice Department, Government of Canada website: http://canada.justice.gc.ca/ftp/en/laws/chap/c/c%2D34.txt It, too, bans pyramid schemes such as yours. Another informative site is: http://www.wco.com/~rteeter/pyramid.html Norman De Forest http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~af380/Profile.html af380@chebucto.ns.ca [=||=] (A Speech Friendly Site) ......................................................................... "I look at the roses through world colored glasses." -- Ron Schwarz in news.admin.net-abuse.email ......................................................................... Spammers, see: http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~af380/Profile.html#Contact Spammees, see: http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~af380/Antispam.html