You come home from work or school.You take off your shoes, turn on the TV and check your email.You can see a message.You realize it's a piece of mail with a threat when you read it.You will get a frightening consequence if you don't forward it to 10 people.What should we do?This how-to explains how to deal with it.
Step 1: Think:
What is the chain mail?Is it BBQ at my house?I will not be happy if you don't come!If it is, you're fine, just a friend who expects you to show up and might be sore at you if you don't.Continue if not.
Step 2: Don't get carried away reading it.
"Don't read this" or "Stop" are usually at the top.You should stop if there is.Chain letters often tell you to "read" or "don't read" as a ploy, playing on your initial curiosity so if you read them, they'll eventually hit you with a bunch of baloney designed to push your panic button or use any other emotion you have against youIf you want to read it, continue.It is a piece of text with some graphics and animations.It can't do anything to you.
Step 3: Stay sensible and rational.
A lot of the time the email or comment is about a monster or fictional dead kid attacking people.If you get scared, don't lose your head.You've known that since you were small.No chain letter will kill you or anyone else.You know dead people are dead, and can't attack you, pull you down, or do any of the things these chain letters claim.None of these stories can cause that to happen.If you decide to read it, keep in mind that all of the chain email stories are false.As you read it, keep thinking about this.
Step 4: Understand the consequences if you don't follow along with the chain communication.
If you don't send this to ten more people, you will die in two days.Will this really happen to you?Will you die because you didn't send an email?How is it possible that a made up story and text can kill you?It can't be more than your keyboard and computer monitor.There is no more chance of being tracked down and killed by an email than there is of your computer coming to life and giving you a hug or a slap.Chain letter emails are not living beings.They can't do more harm than writing an email.
Step 5: Don't send it to anyone else.
It gets worse if other people get it and pass it on.
Step 6: You should keep the email.
Keep the mail and smash it.Make yourself laugh at the ridiculousness of the story and the threat attached by writing out all the things that are wrong with it.A good way to stop an emailer is to keep the message.There is proof that you received this email.Ask anyone who is not freaked out by the chain letter for their ideas.They will end up having a good laugh at the story if you get them to ridicule it.The person who started the chain letter that freaked out the people who got it before you did is now responsible for it.Being a chain-breaker is a good thing.
Step 7: Confront the sender.
The person that sent you the chain letter thought it was funny or was tricked into sending it.Let the person who sent you the email know that the letter is fake and that they shouldn't send it to people.
Step 8: Follow steps 1-7 if they send you another email.
Step 9: Tell someone else if the person sends you three or more emails.
If they keep sending you email, you can report them to their internet service provider.The situation is getting out of hand.If the person keeps sending you junk, tell them you will block their address.Chain letters are against the terms of service of many internet service providers.
Step 10: It is a good idea to report threats.
If the chain letter contains a threat, such as: "I will break into your house myself and enter bad event"It may be appropriate to inform an authority.See warnings.