Amy Bruce Chain Letter

Netlore Archive: The sad, untrue story of 7-year-old lung cancer victim Amy Bruce - another 'dying child' who doesn't really exist

Description: Email hoax
Circulating since: 1999
Status: False

Hi, my name is Amy Bruce. I am 7 years old, and I have severe lung cancer from second hand smoke. I also have a large tumor in my brain, from repeated beatings The doctors say I will die soon if this isn't fixed, and my family can't pay the bills. The Make A Wish Foundation, has agreed to donate 7 cents for every name on this list. For those of you who send this along, I thank you so much, but for those who don't send it, what goes around comes around. Have a Heart, please send this.


Comments: You know, you take one look at this absurd chain letter -- purportedly written by a 7-year-old who not only has severe lung cancer but is dying because of a brain tumor "from repeated beatings" -- and you naturally think: no one could possibly fall for this!

But as I review this text again in January 2007, the evidence to the contrary is all too plain -- people have been forwarding this message uncritically for eight years. Eight years! Appalling, but true.

The message claims that the Make-A-Wish Foundation will donate 7 cents for every time it's forwarded. But how would anyone know how many times it's been forwarded, or to whom? Has the foundation employed psychics? Has it gone back on its longstanding policy of not participating in chain letter campaigns?

For the benefit of those unfamiliar with how widespread this type of hoax is, here are a few previous examples from which the format for the "Amy Bruce" letter was cribbed:

• David Lawitts Chain Letter

  

• Tamara Martin Chain Letter
• Timothy Flyte Chain Letter
• Jessica Mydek Chain Letter

Update: Variants of the Amy Bruce chain letter circulating since March 2006 include the photograph reproduced at right. It is not a picture of Amy Bruce, who doesn't exist. The actual identity of the child in the photo is unknown.