Everybody has received them - Chain letters in the mail or e-mail messages that either promise unprecedented good luck or huge financial rewards for sending as little as $5 to someone on a list.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Reminds you that:

• Chain letters that involve money or valuable items and promise big returns are illegal. If you start one or send one on, you are breaking the law.
• Chances are you will receive little or no money back on your "investment." Despite all the testimonials, a chain letter will never make you rich.
• Some chain letters try to win your confidence by claiming that they are legal, and even that they are endorsed by the government. Nothing is further from the truth.
• High-tech chain letters are becoming more common. They may be sent over the Internet, or may ask you to copy and send computer disks rather than mail paper. Regardless of what technology is used to advance the scheme, if the postal service is used at any step along the way, it is still illegal.
• If you've been a target of a chain email scam, contact your Internet Service Provider and forward the email to the FTC at spam@uce.gov.

If you receive a chain letter in the mail, contact your local Postal Inspector.