(1/13/2002) Ah, tax time is once again upon us and that means that so are the tax-related rumors and scams. Most frequently, chains like this one are forwarded with a note to the extent of "I don't know if this is true, but what can it hurt to try." In this case, however, it can hurt plenty.
SAMPLE CHAIN LETTER TEXT
Subject: FW: Tax Refund (Please send to everyone you can!)
This goes out to all my friends, family, and everyone in the African American community. Once you receive this message please write down the number and then pass it along to every African American you know. As you my know, all African Americans living here in the United States are descendants of slavery, therefore our government has finally passed a bill to pay all descendants back. The way they are paying us back is through a refund called the, "Black Inheritance Tax Refund/40 Acres and a Mule".
When you call this number you'll give them your name, address, and phone number and they'll send you out a packet, which includes further details and information on how to receive the refund. I was informed that it will take only two weeks to receive the packet and then two weeks to receive the money.
Now, if you know our government I bet they are not expecting a lot of people to call for this refund, and they may be right, because many of us will not be informed of this. Therefore, this is why I am taking it upon myself to pass on this information, so our community will soon be informed through word-of-mouth about what has been owed to our ancestors all these years.
Black Inheritance Tax Refund 1-800-441-5629 press #3 to direct you to the appropriate line open between 7am and 12am (EST) West Coast: 4am and 9pm Expect to wait anywhere from 5mins-25mins (There will not be any music to entertain you while you wait!) Ps: You must be 18 years or older and I'm assuming a legal residence of the United States. So, request an application for yourself, husband, wife, sister, brother, father, mother, etc, or just pass the number along.
I had this checked out and it is legit. When I called the number, the lady said that some people have already began receiving their checks. She said that President Clinton wrote the bill and it has finally been passed. The IRS will not tell you these things, because they don't won't us to be education about our rights.
She said to make sure you fill the application out accurately and completely, because if not the application will be not be processed.
END CHAIN LETTER TEXT
This chain has all the ingredients to make it a hot one to forward. It promises lots of money for a little work, and throws in a little government conspiracy to make it even more attractive. But, according to Snopes.com, the Black Inheritance Tax Credit does not exist. It's simply the latest incarnation of an old scam. We don't know what you'll get if you call the 800 number listed, but it won't be some mysterious and overdue repayment for slavery. In 2000 alone, hundreds of elderly African Americans were robbed o their savings through a similar scam.
Some versions of this letter actually tell you to add a $40,000+ deduction on your tax return (supposedly the value of "40 Acres and a mule"). But, since this tax credit doesn't exist, doing so amounts to tax fraud and is punishable with a $500 fine and repayment of the defrauded amount, plus interest.
We forward things like this one because, if it's true, we stand to gain a lot of money. This seems, on the surface, to outweigh the possible consequences if it's not true. Unfortunately, this chain helps nobody except for a few scammers who stand to make an easy buck off of those who fall for it. Break this Chain!
(1/13/2002) Ah, tax time is once again upon us and that means that so are the tax-related rumors and scams. Most frequently, chains like this one are forwarded with a note to the extent of "I don't know if this is true, but what can it hurt to try." In this case, however, it can hurt plenty.