So not everybody has to spend time looking this up...

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Fraudulent Chain Letter

This statement may be copied or reprinted by online users

The American Cancer Society is greatly disturbed by reports of a fraudulent
chain letter circulating on the internet which lists the American Cancer
Society as a "corporate sponsor" but which has in no way been endorsed by
the American Cancer Society. This letter appears to have started on America
Online but has now spread well beyond the online service. There are several
variations of this letter in circulation. The text of the original message
reads as follows:

LITTLE JESSICA MYDEK IS SEVEN YEARS OLD AND IS SUFFERING FROM AN
ACUTE AND VERY RARE CASE OF CEREBRAL CARCINOMA. THIS CONDITION
CAUSES SEVERE MALIGNANT BRAIN TUMORS AND IS A TERMINAL ILLNESS. THE
DOCTORS HAVE GIVEN HER SIX MONTHS TO LIVE.

AS PART OF HER DYING WISH, SHE WANTED TO START A CHAIN LETTER TO
INFORM PEOPLE OF THIS CONDITION AND TO SEND PEOPLE THE MESSAGE TO
LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST AND ENJOY EVERY MOMENT, A CHANCE THAT SHE
WILL NEVER HAVE. FURTHERMORE, THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY AND
SEVERAL CORPORATE SPONSORS HAVE AGREED TO DONATE THREE CENTS
TOWARD CONTINUING CANCER RESEARCH FOR EVERY NEW PERSON THAT
GETS FORWARDED THIS MESSAGE. PLEASE GIVE JESSICA AND ALL CANCER
VICTIMS A CHANCE.

IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, SEND THEM TO THE AMERICAN CANCER
SOCIETY AT [log in to unmask]

As far as the American Cancer Society can determine, the story of Jessica
Mydek is completely unsubstantiated. No fundraising efforts are being made
by the American Cancer Society in her name or by the use of chain letters.
Furthermore, the email address [log in to unmask] is inactive. Any messages to the
American Cancer Society should be instead sent through the American Cancer
Society website at http://www.cancer.org.

This particular chain letter with its heartbreaking story appears to have
struck an emotional chord with online users. Although we are very concerned
that the American Cancer Society's name has been used to manipulate the
online public, we applaud the good intentions of all who participated in
this letter. We are pleased to note that there are so many caring
individuals out there and hope that they will find another way to support
cancer research. Jessica Mydek's story, whether true or false, is
representative of that of many cancer patients who benefit daily from the
efforts of legitimate cancer organizations nationwide.