We keep you up-to-date in the world of e-mail chain letters with the latest news articles about chain letters, as well as updates about BreakTheChain.org. http://www.breakthechain.org/ A husband and wife say they could have made a fortune from a hoax email that has circulated the world and prompted people to send them money. The couple have been offered thousands of dollars, trips overseas, free accommodation and endless support for a non-existent 7-year-old who is said to have cancer. http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/have-your-say/news/stop-sending-us-cash/3915043/ http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/have-your-say/news/stop-sending-us-cash/3915043/ Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:00:00 EDT If you've forwarded an email - purportedly from Australian Red Cross - to friends or family to warn them about flesh-eating spiders you're not only a victim of a hoax but also a nuisance. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/hoax-killer-spider-warning-bites-emailers-20100214-nyvp.html http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/hoax-killer-spider-warning-bites-emailers-20100214-nyvp.html Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EDT A threatening e-mail about gang activity is causing concern among Edmond residents. The message looks like a warning about "national gang week". It says gangs are using car seats placed along the side of the road to entice people into stopping to make sure everything is alright; that's when the gang members allegedly strike. http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-news-gang-email-hoax-story,0,2429867.story http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-news-gang-email-hoax-story,0,2429867.story Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:30:00 EDT Have catamounts returned to the mountains of Northern New York? State wildlife officials say the answer is no, despite reports circulating via email and text message. http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=11970415 http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=11970415 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:45:00 EDT A gang-related e-mail message using an Edmond Police officer's name is a hoax, police said. Edmond Police spokeswoman Glynda Chu said Edmond Police Sgt. Scott Fees is having to explain to concerned callers that the e-mail using his name is not true, and that he did not send the message. http://www.edmondsun.com/local/x1237945051/Hoax-e-mail-singles-out-Edmond-officer http://www.edmondsun.com/local/x1237945051/Hoax-e-mail-singles-out-Edmond-officer Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:45:00 EDT When word first circulated around the Internet of a billboard showing a smiling George W. Bush emblazoned with the message "Miss me yet?" some thought it was another viral e-mail hoax. But it wasn't. http://www.capitolhillblue.com/node/25623 http://www.capitolhillblue.com/node/25623 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EDT At their core, chain letters worked the same way and can also make money (illegally, of course). If you aren't familiar with the old chain letter concept, it has largely been replaced by email scams these days because email is free. What used to happen was that you got a letter which you duplicate and send to (soon-to-be-former) friends. You send this begging letter on to others. (The most horrendous of these involve extortion too - "something bad will happen if you fail to send this along" or "we won't pray for you if you don't send this along.") http://newsblaze.com/story/20100209110543mcco.nb/topstory.html http://newsblaze.com/story/20100209110543mcco.nb/topstory.html Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EDT Note: information in this article is cited from a chain letter debunked on BreakTheChain.org - "In 2001, according to breakthechain.org, only one year after Australia enacted gun control legislation they saw an increase in nationwide homicides by 3.2 percent, assaults increased by 8.6 percent; and armed robberies increased by 44 percent. In the state of Victoria, homicides with firearms increased by 300 percent." http://www.newsleader.com/article/20100209/OPINION03/2090309 http://www.newsleader.com/article/20100209/OPINION03/2090309 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:47:00 EST In support of Hearts for Heroes, an activity created by Boardman resident Nancy Cuffle, students prepared Valentines Day cards for airmen in Iraq. Cuffle started the activity through e-mailing various schools and organizations asking for them to donate cards for deployed troops. Since her idea was so close to Valentine's Day, she coined it as Hearts for Heroes. Her e-mail was passed along as a chain letter and the rest is history. http://poland.vindy.com/news/2010/feb/06/spreading-love-across-the-seas/ http://poland.vindy.com/news/2010/feb/06/spreading-love-across-the-seas/ Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:46:00 EST A email hoax saying that a Matamoros man was arrested for killing dogs and selling the meat to a popular taqueria chain is circulating on both sides of the border. http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=411286 http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=411286 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:45:00 EST