Legal Question in Business Law in New York

chain mail letters

I received a chain mail letter for a money making venture. There are six names on a list, the recipient is told to send one dollar along with a note stating ''please add me to your mailing list'' to each person on the list. The instructions are to then remove the first name from the top of the list and add your own name to the end of the list. The next step is to purchase a mailing list from a mailing list company, (the letter suggests three different companies) and send the letter out to 200 hundred people, in hopes of receiving envelopes with dollar bills. My question is this: Is there anything illegal about this venture, postal or otherwise? Thank You.


Asked on 12/08/05, 8:10 pm

3 Answers from Attorneys
Bunji Fromartz Fromartz Law Offices

Re: chain mail letters = Ponzi scheme

The fact that you are paying to be added to a mailing list could be legal but the manner described here is not a true subscription. It is a mere facade trying to hide a pyramid scheme.

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Answered on 12/09/05, 10:31 am
Walter LeVine Walter D. LeVine, Esq.

Re: chain mail letters

I agree with both Bubji and Peter that this is a long-standing Ponzi scheme that is illegal under most state and postal laws.

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Answered on 12/09/05, 1:27 pm
Peter Moulinos Moulinos & Associates LLC

Re: chain mail letters

Your situation sounds like a pyramid scheme where the last man at the bottom stands to lose everything. They have been deemed unsavory however without knowing the specifics can't tell you if there are any violations of law in your case.

Kind regards,

Peter Moulinos

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Answered on 12/08/05, 8:39 pm


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