chain letter
Multiplying mail threat
A chain letter is a message urging the recipient to copy and send it to others, often with promises of good luck or money for compliance and threats of misfortune for breaking the chain.
The form migrated from postal mail to email to social media: If you don't forward this to ten people, you'll have bad luck for seven years.
Chain letters exploit superstition and social pressure, and most jurisdictions prohibit versions that demand money.
Deliberate deception for effect
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- PonziSwindler's surname, now generic
- moneyCurrency for transactions
fake · con · swindle · misinformation · disinformation · scam · phishing · lottery
Invoked harm through words
- luckChance affecting outcomes
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- misfortuneAdverse circumstance or event
- omenProphetic indicator
jinx · karma · fate · doom · supernatural · protection · wish · prayer
Onward in direction
- recipientOne who receives something
- senderOne who dispatches
- envelopeFolded paper enclosure
- mailboxContainer for delivered mail
email · inbox · spam · postage · stamp · handwritten · typewritten · circular
Force upon contact
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- obligationRequired task or commitment
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- threatIndication of potential harm
urgency · deadline · fear · compliance · persuasion · time-sensitive · compel · insistent
hoax
Deliberate deception for effect
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- PonziSwindler's surname, now generic
money · fake · con · swindle · misinformation · disinformation · scam · phishing · lottery · inheritance
curse
Invoked harm through words
- luckChance affecting outcomes
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- misfortuneAdverse circumstance or event
omen · jinx · karma · fate · doom · supernatural · protection · wish · prayer · charm
forward
Onward in direction
mailbox · email · inbox · spam · postage · stamp · handwritten · typewritten · circular · address
pressure
Force upon contact
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- obligationRequired task or commitment
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
threat · urgency · deadline · fear · compliance · persuasion · time-sensitive · compel · insistent · demanding
- messagesmessage, email, text message, text, instant message
- correspondencemissives, emails, memoranda, mail, postcards
- spamspam, junk mail, spam filter, spam folder, bulk mail
- written correspondencethank-you note, postcard, birthday card, correspondence, telegram
- financial fraudsecurities fraud, bank fraud, accounting fraud, defalcation, embezzler
- misinformationmisinformation, disinformation, fake news, falsehoods, hoaxes
chain letterpersonal correspondence
Direct written communication between individuals
direct message · private message · sealed letter · dead letter
chain letterpersonal letter
Individual written correspondence
love letter · handwritten note · personal correspondence · original composition · thank-you note
letter, chain, chains, letters, lettered, chained, unchain, unchained, chaining