According to the FTC the electronic address receives approximately 500 e-mails a day. Consumers also forward large volumes of unsolicited commercial e-mail to the US Postal Services. Both agencies recently reviewed these collections for e-mail that appeared to be deceptive or fraudulent, in violation of the FTC Act or the Postal Lottery Statute. Letters were sent to the e-mailers warning them about participating in schemes that may violate the law. The largest category of junk e-mail targeted by the FTC was chain letters.
Chain letters are illegal under state and federal laws.
Some chain letters are disguised as legitimate businesses, in which participants receive reports or other worthless items in exchange for money. These schemes are still illegal and almost all participants lose money. If a chain letter claims that the US Postal Service has given it approval, don't be fooled. Many letters provide the correct legal citation, Title 18, Section 1302, which negates rather than supports the legality of the scheme. The US Postal Inspection Service does not approve solicitations.