Definition

A message or document that asks the recipient to copy it and send it to multiple other people, often claiming good fortune for compliance and bad luck for non-compliance. Chain letters were common before the internet but persist in digital form.

Example Usage

I received a chain letter email promising I'd win money if I forwarded it to ten friends within 24 hours.

Origin

Chain letters became widespread in the 1930s in the United States and were often used to promote various schemes and scams.

Fun Fact

Chain letters are illegal in several countries and many jurisdictions classify them as fraud, particularly when money or payment is involved.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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