Money chain letter. Dear Friend. Four pages. Send $6; 200 copies; 6 names. US, 2005.

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Dear Friend

I have received the following information and if you will please take time to read it, I believe it will be very beneficial to you.

Greeting! I am a retired attorney. Approximately two years ago a man came to me with a letter similar to this one. He asked me to verify the fact that this letter was legal. I told him I would review it and get back to him. When I first read the letter a week and a half later, we met in my office to discuss the issue. I told him that the letter he had originally brought me was not 100% legal, and I advised him to make a small change in the letter so it would be legal.

I was still curious about the letter, so he proceeded to explain how the letter works. I thought it was a long shot, and decided against participating. However before my client left, I asked him to keep me updated as to his results. About two months later, he called to tell me he had received over $800,000 in cash. I did not believe him. He suggested that I try his idea and find out for myself. I thought about it for a couple of days and decided that I didn't have anything to lose, so I asked him for a copy of the letter. I followed the instructions exactly, mailed out 200 copies, and sure enough, the money started arriving! It came slowly at first, but after three weeks, I was getting more and more mail than I could open in a day. After three months, the money stopped coming in. I kept a precise record of my earnings, and at the end they totaled $968,493.00!!!

I was earning a good living as an attorney. However as anyone in the legal profession will tell you, there is a lot of stress that comes with the job. I told myself if things worked out, I would retire from my practice and play golf. I decided to try the letter again, but this time I sent out 500 letters. Well, three months later my income totaled $2,344,178.00!!! I just couldn't believe it. I met with my old friend for lunch to find out how it worked. He told me that there are quite a number of similar letters like this going around. What made this one different was the fact that there were six names on the list, not five like many others. That fact alone resulted in may more returns. The other part was in guaranteeing that the whole program was legal, since no one wants to risk participating in something illegal.

I'll assume by now you are curious to know what little change I told him to make. Well f you sent a letter like this one out, to be legal, you must actually sell something if you expect to receive a dollar. I told him that anyone sending a dollar to him must expect to receive something in return. So, when you send a dollar to each of the six people on the list, you must include a slip of paper with the words: "Please put my name on your mailing list." This is the key to the program. FOLLOW THE SIMPLE RULES ON PAGE 2 EXACTLY, and in less than three months, you will receive $800,000.

Be honest and this will work for everyone. Thanks.

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I'm sure you could use $800,000 in the next 20 to 90 days. Please study this letter very carefully. THIS IS NOT A CHAIN LETTER! This is a perfectly legal money making opportunity. Follow these instructions EXACTLY!

1.     Immediately send $1.00 to each of the six names on the last page and request that you be added to their mailing list. It     is this step that makes this system legal.

2.   Remove the name in the number one position and move each of the other names up one place (2 becomes 1, 3 becomes 2, etc.) Put your name in the sixth position (an easy way to do this is to retype or print the six names with yours as the 6^th on a separate sheet of paper and tape it over the area where the names are shown.

3.     After completing the above instructions, photocopy or print 200 copies of this letter.

4.     Purchase a mailing list of names from the ********* Company. Specify that you want names of OPPORTUNITY SEEKERS. They sell a list of 200 names for only $40.00. They also ship the next day C.O.D. The best part is that the names come on self-adhesive labels that you peel and stick right onto the envelope. Just call: 1-800-497-****. this company accepts MasterCard and Visa, so it is more convenient to get started.

5.     While waiting for the mailing list of names to arrive, place each of your 200 (500 if you want to make even bigger bucks) copies into business size envelopes and seal them. Go to your post office and purchase 200 of their 37 cent stamps and place them on the envelopes. (They sell rolls of 100 that are self-adhesive.)

6.     Once your list arrives, place an address label on each of the envelopes, and drop them in the mailbox. Within 20 to 90 days you should receive over $800,000 in CASH. Now, here is the interesting part, that is with only a 7.5% RESPONSE RATE. (This is very conservative. It is possible to reach this amount every time.) The first time I participated, I kept an accurate count of all my letters and my response rate was 9.5% and the second was over 11%.

THIS SYSTEM WAS MADE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACCUMULATING CAPITAL FAST AND HONESTLY. Once again, THIS IS NOT A CHAIN LETTER, but is perfectly legal, (refer to Title 18, section 1302 and 1342 of the U.S Postal and Lottery Law). When you send 200 copies of the letter and each responsive individual sends 200 copies and sends you a dollar, your fortune multiplies rapidly!!!!

YOUR TOTAL COST

200 copies of the letter (4 pages @ 5 cents each)                       $40.00
200 names of opportunity seekers                                              $40.00
200 business size envelopes                                                       $ 5.00
200 .37 cent stamps                                                                  $74.00
$1.00 to each of the six names                                                   $ 6.00
                                                                                              $165.00

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At a conservative rate of responses, assume for example you get a 7.5% return rate.
My first attempt was about 9.5% and my second was 11%

When you send out 200 letters, 15 people will send $1.00	$15.00
Those 15 people mail out 200 letters, and 225 people respond with $1.00	$225.00
Those 225 people mail out 200 letters, and 3,375 people send out $1.00	$3,375.00
Those 3,375 people mail out 200 letters, and 50,625 send out $1.00	$50,625
Those 50,625 people mail out 200 letters and 759,375 send you $1.00	$759,375.00
	Total $813,615.00

AT THIS POINT YOUR NAME IS DROPPED FROM THE LIST, BUT YOU'VE RECEIVED $813,615!!!! IT WORKS EVERY TIME. BUT HOW WELL YOU DO DEPENDS ON HOW MANY LETTERS YOU MAIL OUT. ON THE ABOVE EXAMPLE, YOU STARTED WITH 200 LETTERS AT A 7.5% RATE. I GUARANTEE THAT THE MATH IS CORRECT. WITH THIS KIND OF RESPONSE, YOU'VE GOT TO TRY IT!!!!

HERE ARE A FEW TIPS I HAVE LEARNED

1. After you receive your list, mail the letters as soon as possible while the list is still fresh.
2. When you handle a lot of letters, an electric opener is great.
3. File your response alphabetically everyday. If you have a computer, all the better. If not, get one with your first response.
4. STAY COOL. Keep you job until you have time to plan your next step. Sow 10% of your new income to charitable contributions (you reap what you sow). Save 20%. Set aside 10% for you next business project or mailing list. This is legal, helpful service (see Title 18, section 1302 and 1341 of the postal and lottery law),
5. If you have tried this system before and failed, it was probably because you mailed to your friends. NO KIDDING! this time, get the mail list labels and SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AFTER YOU HAVE PROVED IT WORKS!

Testimonials:

I am naturally skeptical and I have received at least 35 letters similar to this one in a six month period. There was however, something about this one I liked. It takes less investment that some others do, and all participants receive money, not just the top one. Anyway, I sent out 250 letters and hoped for the best. Nothing happened for 11 days but on the 12^th day I received $90.00. Over the next 4 1/2 months, I received $800,000 cash in the mail. I am doing it again with 1000 letters.   J. Hollman

I wanted to try a similar program in which it costs $5.00 for 5 names, plus much more in expenses which at the time I didn't have enough capital to invest. The first time I sent this letter I got my response in one week! After a short period of time I got well over $800,000!!! And I am trying it again!!!! Good luck to all of you. It really works.    S. Frisch.

When I got this letter, I said "yeah sure" and pitched it. Then later remembered hearing that skepticism breeds failure, while belief leads to success. So I rescued the letter, typed a fresh mailing list and sent them out. Thank Heavens I did. In a few months, I paid all my bills and cut up my credit cards, as I didn't need them. I am buying what I need (or want) without paying interest. R. Siergerot.

WE WILL INVEST IN LOTTERIES, ENTER SWEEPSTAKES, CLIP COUPONS ETC. WE NEED TO INVEST IN ONE ANOTHER. MAYBE YOU ARE NOT IN NEED OF MONEY, THEN DO IT FOR SOMEONE ELSE, FOR A NEIGHBOR, A COLLEGE STUDENT, ENDOWMENT FUND ETC. LET US HELP EACH OTHER TO FULFILL OUR DREAMS AND FUTURES.

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My name is Dick Hollman. In September 1991, my car was repossessed. Bill collectors were hounding me like you wouldn't believe. I was laid off, and unemployment insurance ran out. In October, I received a letter telling me how to earn $800,000 anytime I wanted. Of course I was skeptical, but because I was desperate and had nothing to lose, I gave it a try. In January 1992, my family and I went on a 10-day CRUISE! In February, I bought a new Cadillac with cash! Today, I'm currently building a second home in Virginia and WILL NEVER WORK AGAIN!

This program works perfectly. I have never failed to make $800,000 on each mailing. This is a legitimate business and perfectly legal money-making program. It does not require you to sell anything or come into contact with anyone. Best of all, the only time you will ever leave home is to mali the letters and you do that on your way to the grocery store.

FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW AND YOUR DREAMS WILL COME TRUE !!!!!

    1. Immediately send 1.00 (cash only) to each of the six names listed below. Wrap the dollar bill in a note saying, "please add my name to your mailing list", and add your name and address. This is a legitimate service for which you are paying $1.00
    2. REMOVE THE NAME AT THE TOP OF THE LIST and move the other five names up on each so that #2 becomes #1 and so on. Add your name as #6. One way to do this is to type or print your new list of names and tape it over the old list before you run off copies.
    3. Get a list of "opportunity seekers" (200 or more names) from a mailing list company. Three that have proven effective are

************* Publications       ********* Benny         **** Line
**** Jenny Lind Road                  PO Box ****               PO Box ****
Suite ** Dept. *****                   New Hyde Park           Omaha Nebraska 68107
Port Smith Arkansas 72908          New York, NY 11040   Phone: 800-497-****
Phone 800-676-****                   Phone: 516-486-****

You will receive names on pre-addressed labels within a few days. While you wait, put your copies in envelopes. Seal and stamp them so there is nothing left to do but apply labels and mail. These names will be from current active lists. They are not duplicated or sent to dozens of their customers. Once you get them, send out copies as soon as possible.

    4.   Within 90 days, you should receive your $800,000 CASH! Keep this letter so you can do this again when you need more money. Remove the top name on this list and put your name at the bottom.

            1. B ***, ***, Mesa, AZ 85212
      2. Mr. W. ***, ***, Honolulu, HI 96814
    3. Nancy W., ***, Dallas, TX 75208
    4. A. L., ***, Salt Lake City, UT 84106
5. R. M, ***, Ohio 44882
6. S. G., ***, Hurst, TX 76054

Comments on the above money chain letter.

The above is a typical contemporary money chain letter, despite the usual denial ("This is not a chain letter."). There are many resources on the WWW that expose the fallacy of making money off such a scheme (unless, perhaps, you are selling mailing lists). And, despite the spurious legal opinion in the letter, operation of this chain letter violates state and federal laws.

The Paper Chain Letter Archive can be used to detect "traditional" elements in the letter, and thus falsify the claims made. Here is a link to a 1991 money chain letter: me1991-01_attorney_s$1x5n5

Quoting text from the 1991 and then this 2005 letter:

"I am skeptical by nature. I had received at least 35 different propositions like this one. But there was something about this particular approach that I liked." . . . J. Holliman (1991)

"I am naturally skeptical and I have received at least 35 letters similar to this one in a six month period. There was however, something about this one I liked." J. Hollman (2005)

Clearly the 2005 account is based on a similar money chain letter that circulated 14 years prior. The 1991 letter claimed to be from an attorney named "Phillip A. Brown" and was similar in ways but different in others. By searching on specific text on Google, the reader will discover that this letter has an abundant email version. Daniel W. VanArsdale

Printed (?) four page letter (two two-sided sheets). Letter addressed to Mark G., Colleyvill, TX using an address label. Post marked in Fort Worth, Texas, Aug. 12, 2002. Paragraphs preserved. Some slight formatting changes. Provided by Mark G. Entered by DWV, 9/9/2005.

me2005-08_retired_s6usd-n6q200

The Paper Chain Letter Archive - contents Chain Letter Evolution.