A chain letter is a get rich quick scheme that promises you a lot of money if you participate by mailing it on to others. You're often told you can make thousands of dollars per month if you follow the detailed instructions contained in the letter. The chain letter always includes the names and addresses of several other people. You are usually instructed to send $5 or $10 cash to the person at the top of the list. Then, you eliminate that name and add your name to the bottom of the list. Then you are supposed to make photocopies of the letter and mail them to the other individuals on the list who are supposed to repeat the process. The letter claims that if they follow the same procedure, your name moves to the top of the list and you receive a lot of money.
 
With the advent of the Internet, many chain letters have gone digital. Each day millions of e-mail in baskets are swamped with spam, of which a portion are chain letters. Regardless of the technology used to propel these schemes, if the mail is used at any step, it’s considered illegal.
 
According to the USPS: Chain letters are illegal if they request money or other items of value and promise a substantial return to the participants. Chain letters are considered 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.
 
Side Note: Some chain letters are actually legal. Chain letters asking for items of nominal value, like recipes, may be mailed because such items are not considered valuable in the eyes of the law.
 
The Bottom Line: Chain letters don't work because of mathematical impossibility. Chain letters are a losing proposition and you are certainly not going to get rich participating in one.