"Sick" chain letter illegal

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 287, 23 May 1989, Page 2

"Sick" chain letter illegal

While completing my home visits on Tuesday May 16, One of my oldest patients was quite distressed when I arrived. She had received a sick chain letter in the mail that morning. It threatened dire consequences to either her or her family if the chain was broken. The letter stated that twenty copies were to be sent on within 96 hours, to avoid these consequences. The cost of this to the elderly is impractical, while the effort and trauma involved is an imposition upon their rights. It amazes and shocks me that someone in our community would be so inconsiderate in sending a letter like this to someone they did not know, causing this person unnecessary anxiety. While the m'ajority of u# know to file this sort of mail in the rubbish - this patient knew that this should be done - it was obvious to me that great distress had been caused. I feel people who find the need to continue a chain letter such as this, need to consider more carefully who they are sending the letters to. Diana Baker District Nurse. People who send or continue chain lettters that threaten ill-fate to any person discontinuing the chain should be aware that they face prosecution by police if they are identified. Chain letters that ask the receiver to send a sum of money are highly illegal.

Ed.