Chain mail

A chain mail may refer to any of the following:

1. Chain mail, a chain letter, or a chain e-mail is an unsolicited e-mail containing false information to scare, intimidate, or deceive the recipient. Its purpose is to coerce the recipient to forward the e-mail to other unwilling recipients, thereby propagating the malicious or spurious message. The following are fictitious examples of what chain mail may resemble.

First chainmail example

In the first chainmail example, this e-mail plays on an individual's sympathy. However, the information about the sick or dying individual is likely not true, and if true, the charitable claim is improbable. A company or organization would never donate money because you forwarded an e-mail.

Dear all,
 
This e-mail contains information about a sick or dying individual. Please forward this e-mail to as many people as possible. This large company or organization will donate money to each e-mail address that receives this message.

Sincerely,
Important person

Second chainmail example

In the second chainmail example, a common myth or fear is sent because it seems significant; the recipient feels inclined to let all their friends know. If the mail sounds unbelievable, but has never been mention on a reputable news sources, it's not true. Don't forward these e-mails even if it claims it has never been mentioned because of a cover-up or conspiracy.

Dear all,

Please be aware of a major news story, political event, disaster, disease, miracle, or amazing product. Please forward this to everyone you know to help warn them about the above article.

Third chainmail example

In the final chainmail example, the chainmail once again claims that by forwarding an e-mail, you or the sender could receive money. There has never been a time when forwarding an e-mail resulted in getting money. Realize that a person or company cannot track an e-mail after receiving it from the original recipient. Also, if possible, your e-mail is not tied to your name, phone number, or address, which means they cannot identify you.

Dear all,

<popular or well-known company, e.g., Microsoft> is giving away money, having a lottery, sending prizes, etc., to anyone who forwards this e-mail.

Chain mail is a form of spam and may even help harvest e-mail addresses for spam. Therefore, as a kindness to all your contacts in e-mail, do not forward these e-mails and instead delete them.

2. In historical or fantasy video games, the term chain mail (sometimes spelled "chainmail," "chain maille," or "chainmaille") describes a type of armor worn by a warrior or fighter. Real chainmail is a wearable mesh of interconnected metal rings developed for military use in approximately 300 B.C. Chainmail is generally more protective than "ringmail" armor, where metal rings are attached to an underlying fabric, but are not connected.

E-mail, E-mail terms, Game terms, Internet terms, Phishing, Security terms, Spam