Chain letters 1

[edwsshaw]

I am told that e-chain letters can really be cleverly disguised (If you forward this letter, your wish will come true) address collectors for spammers. I'd like to warn students in general terms, but don't understand the mechanism; in other words, how does this work? Thanks. (ed)

Ed Shaw

 

[helenw]

Ed-
You might want to take a look at a great website that helps with this problem.

http://www.breakthechain.org/

helenw
-"All animals except for man know that the ultimate business of life is to enjoy it" Samuel Butler

 

[edwsshaw]

Thanks, Helen. That was an eye-opener. As so often happens, there is surprising information on the internet, including a lot of info on this topic. I would not have guessed it, until I searched Yahoo for "spammers use chain letters to collect email addresses."
I know now that, in fact, there are better ways to harvest email addresses than from chains, and that no commonly known technique for using chains in this way exists. There are many other good reasons not to pass on chains, though, and I know several now. Thanks.

Ed Shaw