I just received one thru snail mail. Says that if you send $1 to the six addresses on their list and add yours to the bottom you will start collecting a lot of cash. Says to be legit, to say put me on your mailing list. Also, points you to a site that generates a name list to peel and mail labels, and make over 300 copies. This guy is a retired attorney from Florida, and says it works, WHATEVER!!! I looked up this scam on the USPS site and got this:

USPS

What I want to know is how they got my name and address in the first place, I have called to have my name removed from all junk mail, and all that stuff. The envelope had to my name or current resident. Do you think someone I know generated this letter to me? If so, are they that vulnerable?

Also found this at the FTC:

quote:

3. Chain letters
You're asked to send a small amount of money ($5 to $20) to each of four or five names on a list, replace one of the names on the list with your own, and then forward the revised message via bulk email. The letter may claim that the scheme is legal, that it's been reviewed or approved by the government; or it may refer to sections of U.S. law that legitimize the scheme. Don't believe it.

The scam: Chain letters-traditional or high-tech-are almost always illegal, and nearly all of the people who participate in them lose their money. The fact that a "product" such as a report on how to make money fast, a mailing list, or a recipe may be changing hands in the transaction does not change the legality of these schemes.

Needless to say, I threw it back in the mailbox with the words, I think this is Illegal, please forward to the Postal Inspector.

People can buy lists of names from any organization that compiles membership lists, subscription lists, donor lists, and so forth. You can request that your name be deleted but it's impossible to tell if the owner of the list complied.

Your best way of stopping such intrusive behavior is to shred the darn letter!