Shirley Bruce (26.11.03 13:46) Thank you for your news release on hoax letter. Having spent time setting this up for sending this morning, I had a nag in my head regarding the name and therefore must have sent some letters out from a previous company that I was working at, so decided to check out the web. Naturally all our letters have been placed in the bin. Once again I thank you. Shirley Bruce

Shirley Moody (26.11.03 17:00) I would like to thank Shirley Bruce for bringing this chain letter hoax to my attention. I'd like to get my hands on the person who has recently re-introduced this hoax (maybe if they or their child was dying of cancer they would think twice!) With regards to the many unwanted Compliment slips received.. cant these be utilised to help Great Ormond Street or some other charity? Maybe some good can come from this. shirley Moody

Pearl Allan (11.12.03 13:04) I have received two requests for compliments slips for a John Craggs, 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey, SB2 7LC. I was wary because of the similarity of name (John Craig) so have not responded. I will e-mail those who sent the request to me so they are aware of the unfortunate misuse of their time and sympathies.

Hannah (15.12.03 13:15) John Craggs - 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey SB2 1LC We received this letter and got ready to send off compliment slips and forward this on to 10 other companies. When it came to the postcode which we received as SB2 1LC I thought something wasn't right. I checked it up, realized the address wasn't Charlton either as written, but Carshalton. I also noted there was no 332 Selby Road in Carshalton. Obviously I decided to check further and came upon this website. I have thrown away everything we were going to send and would caution anyone who receives letters of this type. Never send out blank comp slips of letter heads.

(12.1.04 11:53) We have received many of these letters lately, and each time I have contacted the person who sent it, and told them it is a hoax. It is amazing how many people don't know this, despite it going on for some time. I first heard about it back in 1996. Thank you for this article, which I have now e-mail to the whole Firm I work for, and friends.

(14.1.04 19:49) Thank you for publicising this hoax. I have recieved a variant which I am almost certain is the same basic chain letter slightly modified. The story is the same, but the name is now John Craggs and the address is 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey SB2 1LC. You may have access to better checking than me but I am not going to send on the letter. I always break chains on principle!

Liz Tomlin (20.1.04 11:47) We have just received the requestfrom the Thistle Group of hotels who have circulated (all in good faith) to their whole group and other hotel groups and large companies - it will take some time to stop. I recognised it immediately as it has been sent several times to our company with the name and address changing slightly each time. I imagine that this may not necessarily be a malicious hoax, but a "Chinese Whisper" situation where names and addresses have been mistyped over the years. Has anyone tried contacting GMTV or Watchdog or some other TV programme in an attempt to stop it?

Justin McKenna (26.1.04 15:35) The John Craggs variant is now circulating in Ireland. I was suspicious and Google searched for "John Craggs compliment slips" and was directed to this site. Well done for publicising this. Regards, Justin McKenna

Emily Must (27.1.04 11:59) we have had the John Craig letter and have now recieved a letter requesting compliments slips for 'John Graggs' this has been circulatinig in Lincolnshire for some months now. thanks for confirming the hoax. Emily

Samantha Brooks (6.2.04 15:23) We have received the letter and i look up on the net as i have heard of these hoax's before. Thank you for making this site knowledgeable.

gemma pearson (9.2.04 12:49) I have recieved this letter regarding a John Craggs, 332 selby Rd, Charlton, apparantly being started off by the Wallbrook group.....I contacted the wallbrook Group who assured me this letter was genuine...apparently known about by their Chief Exec. Can you please clarify.

Mandy Cobley (20.2.04 10:34) 20/02/04 I have received the chain letter for John Craggs this has gone straight in the bin and i have forwarded this web site to the people that sent it to me. Thanks for posting this it has been very useful.

Mark Steed (23.2.04 10:36) I have just received one of these hoax letters from a well-meaning person from another similar establishment. Attached to the letter is a list of some 130 well-known companies who are circulating this letter. Although not one of these other letters has a name attached, so that may be part of the hoax?... This really leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Richard Drew (2.3.04 09:51) This is more than a hoax, I understand that the compliments slips are used to construct entries in a trade directory and thus have a considerable value to the recipient. It is a free form of information gathering and relies on others to pay the postage. Simply a sad reflection on someone who presumeably does not care.

Richard Drew (2.3.04 09:56) This is more than a hoax, I understand that the compliments slips are used to construct entries in a trade directory and thus have a considerable value to the recipient. It is a free form of information gathering and relies on others to pay the postage. Simply a sad reflection on someone who presumeably does not care. better still return the with compliments slip but no postage.

Mark Ingham (3.3.04 10:20) Thanks for this public spirited information. You have saved a lot of schools lots of time.

June (4.3.04 19:53) The letter is now circulating round the Rochdale area. Unfortunately our company was duped, have just been informed by a branch in Manchester that it is a hoax.

Sarah (6.4.04 10:42) We received the "John Craggs, 332 Selby Road, Carshalton, Surrey SB2 1LC" letter this morning from another central London property agency, and have notified them it is a hoax. Of interest, I checked the address and postcode on Royal Mail. The postcode is invalid, and the numbers on Selby Road in Carshalton only go up to 69. To the gentleman who was assured that a chief exec verified the authenticity--no one wants to believe they've been had.

Richard / Website (23.4.04 10:45) Its still going strong. (19th April 2004) Name now is 'John Gragg' of 'Carlton' in Surrey, documentation shows it is being passed to government agencies, the NHS, the HRH Prince of Wales charities as well as companies. Luckily the address didn't look right so I checked the web and found your page.

Rachel (27.4.04 12:32) Was just about to forward this chain to our subsidiaries in the USA and Canada - I thought a post code may help for the compliment slips to be returned from the US and did a search on Royal Mail - only to discover that although there are 27 million addresses at your fingertips, this wasn't one of them!!! Then found this website when I searched for the address on the internet. NB address is now: John Graggs, 332 Selby Road, Carshalton, Surrey (no postal code)

Sarah Pearson (5.5.04 12:04) I received this letter last year and have received it again this morning! The request is for John Craig of 38 Shelby Road, Carshalton, Surrey SM4 1LD. I have now advised the company who sent it to me. Many thanks for confirming my suspicions.

Sharon Eastwood / Website (6.5.04 10:36) Very pleased to have found your web-site. We received first chain letter c.3 years ago & of course responded. Since then we've received it again & again, the latest dated last Monday 3/5/04. We found out it was a scam about a year ago and have since tried to convey this to the companies involved. This will definitely help to convince people that they're wasting their time. Thank you. Sharon Eastwood

Paul (6.5.04 11:01) Its certainly still going round! 6 May 2004 The name is changed to John Craggs 332 Selby Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SB2 1LC. Thank you for publicising this hoax, we have done our best to contact people that have unfortunatly circulated this letter.

Sharon Eastwood (6.5.04 11:13) With reference to my comment earlier today I should have added that we noted another new address on our chain letter. It has changed from 332, Selby Road, CARSHALTON,Surrey. SM15 1LD to ..... 32 Selby Road,CHARLTON,Surrey.SB2 1LC ! Best regards Sharon Eastwood

Jonathan (7.5.04 14:37) yep still running, 332 Selby Rd

Rachel Hargreave Mawson (12.5.04 17:30) We received John Craggs 332 Selby Road Chorlton Surrey SM2 11C. Like many others, I thought the post code was a bit "strange" and just for curiosity googled the given name. I too shall tell my supplier who passed it on to me.

Liz Coates (27.5.04 13:29) I have been duped along with lots more just last week and have just been sent this attachment what a waste of time/paper/postage it does leave one feeling a bit green.

Keith Rennie (27.5.04 13:51) Cruel Hoax chain letter still around in Scotland now John Craig 38 Shelby Road Carshalton

Denise Craig (28.5.04 12:10) We got our copy of the letter today, I have seen it before so knew it was a hoax. Now have to spend informing the company that has sent it that it is a hoax so they can then get in touch with the companies they have sent it to.

Rebecca Lawrence-Lake (1.6.04 16:22) This is still in circulation. I have received a letter re: John Craggs today, I had a feeling it was a hoax so I'm glad I checked and found your website. A colleague has informed our local newspaper. Many thanks.

James Engineering (2.6.04 10:05) Now In the North-East, we received a variant three years ago and were suspicious then.

Douglas Robertson (7.6.04 13:06) Unfortunately this is still going around. The address is now: John Craggs, 32 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey, SB52 1LC I would suggest anyone else who receives this, immediatley contacts the most recent sender to ask them to notify their customers/friends that this is indeed a hoax.

Andy Dean / Website (18.6.04 14:22) Just received this hoax today. Fortunately the postcode looked suspect and multimap.com confirmed it as invalid. Address is now 332 Selby Road, Charlton SM2 1LC.

Helen A. Phung (21.6.04 23:22) Dear Councilor Bruce: Thank you for this. My company received just such a letter. Rather than respond to it, I checked a search engine, remembering the Craig Shergold case. When I found it was indeed a hoax, I was glad I looked. I will contact the business associate who sent the request to me and inform her as well.

Paul Waterman / Website (23.6.04 13:41) This hoax has reared its head again, this week I received a letter from someone who thought it was genuine and I have sent out the ten letters as requested. I think its despicable that people can stopp this low.

Erika / Website (24.6.04 17:59) Just got this today as well and was in the process of typing out the letters. The address said Chalton, Surrey and as we thought that was odd, we wanted to look up the post code, and found this! Thanks for letting everyone know!

ADMIN / Website (30.6.04 09:50) We received a letter but with the name of John Craggs as of 12th May 2004

Liane (30.6.04 10:42) Still going the circulation is now in South Wales. Thanks for the website confirmed my suspicions that it was just another chain letter.

Des Senior / Website (8.7.04 17:37) John Craig, 38 Selby Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SN5 1LD this time (incorrect postcode though SM5 1LD would be an address in Selby Road, Carshalton). I now have to tell my MD he's fallen for a hoax.

Dawn Swift (12.7.04 17:06) Well it is still doing the rounds, my office sent me a fax this morning 12/7/04 it took about 10mins for all the attached lists of companies to be printed off. Thank goodness I looked on the net before doing all that photocopying. Thank you for saving my valuable time.

Dawn Swift / Website (12.7.04 17:09) Well it is still doing the rounds, my office sent me a fax this morning 12/7/04 it took about 10mins for all the attached lists of companies to be printed off. Thank goodness I looked on the net before doing all that photocopying. Thank you for saving my valuable time.

Martyn Welsby (14.7.04 14:39) The hoax is still going strong, and upsetting people who have been taken in by it. A colleague recognised the letter, and commented that the boy was 7 years old some years ago. It amounts to something along the lines of a chain letter, and the only ones to profit from it are the Royal Mail. It was lucky that I found this site through Google.

Dave Anderson (15.7.04 11:05) Hi, Hoax still going strong and now circulating in Northern Ireland and has been passed to a number of pharmacy organisations there! Dave

Emma (16.7.04 16:52) Still going strong (we're in Kent). We received the letter a week or so ago. It just happened that I was looking through the filing cabinets and stumbled on the same letter (although name was Cragg this time and Craig before) from 2 years ago. All company names, addresses, phone numbers etc are being entered into a database and then probably sold on and / or used for marketing purposes. I'm glad we realised before we sent the letters out!

Sam Sparey (16.7.04 16:54) I must say our company was totally duped also! We recieved the letter from a good client of ours, we presumed that it was real. We quickly answered due to the nature of the time issue and sent covering letters to all ten companies and now we have to send apologies to them for our crime of caring. How these people can get away with this unbelievable. In context the paper and time is nothing to us all- but the thought that a small child was suffering and these people are playing on our compassion to further their business is unforgivable. I hope that one day these people realise what a disgusting thing they have done and give what profit they have made to a real Cancer charity!! But honestly I know that that will never happen.

Elizabeth (22.7.04 10:15) Just to let you know that the letter is still doing the rounds but I knew it was a hoax as soon as I opened it at work this morning. Many of our associates were obviously unaware. This is where it stops and it is now in the bin.

Elizabeth Minogue (26.7.04 06:23) This has made it's way to Oz. The letter has sadly collected alot of With Comps slips!! Thank God for the internet...it has saved alot of time and effort for no good reason!! In the bin it goes!!

Joanne Slater / Website (26.7.04 17:02) We too have been involved in this hoax, twice!!! Until searching on the web and confirming our thoughts. We will be contacting all the people on the letter that we have to try and stop this hoax.

Debbie Grier / Website (2.8.04 13:33) We have received yet another letter concerning compliment slips for John Craggs again. This is the fourth time! The first time we fell for it. From now on we just bin it. The lad must have the secret for eternal youth... he is consistently 7 years old!

Richard (3.8.04 16:05) We have seen this for a second time. Name has now evolved to 'John Gragg' and the address is now 332 Selby Road, LEEDS LS15 0PR

Erin (4.8.04 04:47) Yup, its still going. I was a bit sus and hence did a google search and found over 1000 pages confirming it was a hoax. But it has been sent through to us with an long attached list of mainly building related companies, many of which are recognisable, that have already read and responded to the letter. This has gone too far!

Karen from Australia (6.8.04 02:29) Thought the name looked familiar. Have just received the letter again, did a Google search and found your site.

Mark Rowley (9.8.04 15:55) Just put a stop to it here in the Midlands - and not for the first time! I wonder just waht happens to all the mail sent if the address is false - its no wonder my ONLY delivery of the day arrives a 14.00 hrs.It is interesting though to note how difficult it is to stop something like this.

R. Garcia (18.8.04 12:33) Have you got a contact number so I can verify that this page isn't a hoax? Thanks.

Gail Clayton / Website (20.8.04 15:30) Thanks for the warning about this. I received this letter this morning and set up a mail shot. I dont know what made me do it before I sent them out but I did a search on the internet to see if this was a hoax. Thanks again for posting this information.

Jackie Lynch (25.8.04 13:34) The company I work for received this about 5 years ago - I was the receptionist and was the one who did the copying etc so it stuck in my head. The name then was John Craig, we received it at least twice since and today we received one with the name John Craggs. I will contact the company who sent it on and let them know its a con.

Lyn Crump (27.8.04 04:50) I'm pleased I 'google' any thing suspect. The paper trail with my letter reads like a whos' who of UK and Australia. Pity they don't all have email addresses so I could alert them of the scam. Thanks for the site.

Simon Hewitt (3.9.04 16:09) Believe it or not this hoax is doing the rounds again. We (NHS Tayside) recieved it today. So thank you for the warning!

Mark Allen (15.9.04 18:34) Just received a version of this with the name/address: John Craggs, 232 Shelby Street, Charleton,Surrey SB1 1LC

Sharyn Fairlie (24.9.04 03:39) Just wanting to let you know that the John Graggs Letter is now circulating in Australia. Address on the letter I received is 332 Shelby Road, Carlton Surrey, England SB2 1 LC

Lorna Mercer (28.9.04 18:02) What a sick sick world we live in that this kind of thing happens. Regrettably, i fell for it and sent off letters to everyone i know, and have just spent the afternoon phoning them to warn them its a hoax. I can only hope that these people get what they deserve, afterall, what goes around, comes around.

Emma Hemmins (30.9.04 14:23) I have also just received this letter for John Craggs of 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey, SM12 1LC. Glad I thought about checking this out online before sending it onto other reputable companies to get sucked in! Thanks.

Michael Todd (2.10.04 12:32) I have just recieved this hoax letter from a trading company relevent to are trade and thanks to staff at the Belfast Telegraph checking this web site THE BUCK STOPS HERE! many thanks steven for your reserch in to this matter.at BT.Its about time this scam was drawn to a swift close. THANKS AGAIN!

Dave Barber (6.10.04 09:52) just received this letter as John Gragg 322 Selby Road Carshalton Surrey LS15 0PR. The postcode is LEEDS!!

Karen Walker (6.10.04 10:35) We just received this today, address now John Craig, 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey SB12 1LC. Can't believe I haven't heard about this before! Will be contacting the people who sent it to us to try and get it to stop. What a waste of everyone's time and resources - especially Royal Mail's...

Margaret Collins (7.10.04 17:39) We received this letter at work yesterday from a customer as John Gragg,322 Selby Road, Carshalton, Surrey.LS15 0PR As I was addressing the envelope I realised (being local)that Carshalton is an SM postcode. What on earth do the originators get out of doing this,Their letter wouldn't get delivered as the numbers only go up to 69. The company that sent it to us have wasted their time sending it to 10 other companies with 5 pages of previous reciprients. It's a pity this scam can't be better publicised.Then there would be so much time wasted.

Harriet Rich (11.10.04 12:20) We received this letter at work today (11th October) It just so happens that I encountered a similar letter several years ago in another job and so alarm bells rang. I have printed out this web page and sent it to the company that forwarded the letter to us. Such a cruel hoax that plays on companies and their employees kind heartedness.

Paul Harper / Website (12.10.04 11:22) Thanks to your website found in Google (lucky you are submitted to the search engines) I did not send the letters. I have advised all my clients (over 1000 in the UK) by email to watch out for this and advise it is a hoax.

Mimi Parsons / Website (12.10.04 12:56) Due to the suspicious address on this chain letter I googled the postcode and was redirected to this site. Thank you for your website, it has saved a lot of embarrassment for our Chief Executive.

Denise Moloney (18.10.04 14:46) Believe it or not this chain letter is still going around (in Ireland). I received a request last week to send a compliment slip to "John Craggs" at the address in Surrey. I wondered if it was genuine because I remember the original one for Craig Shergold all those years ago. Lo and behold, I check it out on the Net and find this website! I will be dumping the letter I received but I was amazed to discover that it had already been sent to 150 companies before it got to the company I work for!

Malika (20.10.04 03:43) This chain letter has reached sydney, Australia! thanks for the website!

Nicola (22.10.04 12:19) I've just received this chain letter this morning, but recognised the name and address from when I worked at a previous company. Glad I went with my instincts before I bought the stamps. Thanx for clarifying.

Sima Miller-Bridger (1.11.04 12:02) I too along with many others received this letter. Again thank you for your article, which I read and decided to bin. It is a shame that someone thinks it great fun to use a misfortune to waste valuable compnay time.

Tony Seymour (3.11.04 06:13) This chain-letter in its various incarnations has been doing the rounds of Australian businesses for many years as well. After a lull, they have surfaced again and my organisation in Tasmania has recently received letters for "John Craig", the latest one from New South Wales. The world really is a small place!

Tony Seymour (3.11.04 06:14) This chain-letter in its various incarnations has been doing the rounds of Australian businesses for many years as well. After a lull, they have surfaced again and my organisation in Tasmania has recently received letters for "John Craig", the latest one from New South Wales. The world really is a small place!

G Masters (4.11.04 01:28) Unfortunately we have been caught by this chain letter in Regional NSW Australia. So it is still going strong.

adele inalsingh (9.11.04 14:39) john Craggs 322 Selby Road Charlton Surrey SB2 1LC is the new address they are using

Vicky Eatough / Website (12.11.04 00:21) vickyeats@hotmail.com

lorraine goulding (30.11.04 10:51) Just received the letter this morning RE: John Craig - 38 Selby Road, Carshalton Surrey SM15 1LD. Felt I recognised the name. So just put it into Google and arrived at this site. My letter has already been to South West Dorset Primary Care Trust, and the Metropolitan Police, North Lanarkshire Council Dept. of Education and Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust. It might be appropriate if organisations like this had a policy on Chain Letters as it seems like a waste of resources if this is a hoax. Anyway I will be binning the letter.

Jon Dean (2.12.04 21:37) Got the letter from one of our suppliers this morning. I had written out a slip beofre thinking that 'John Cragg' seemed like an odd name for a 7-year old. Not many young Johns around are there? Did a Google search & got here. Slip now in bin. Thanks, all!

Joanne (6.12.04 10:43) I fell for it I have to say, but had a niggling feeling about it so I decided to check and came across this site!!! It's horrible because if we ever receive an honourable request we're forever going to be cynical.

Sarah Minchin (6.12.04 12:55) We had a letter requesting compliment slips from one of our customers, it was all set up to get them from all our customer with our drivers and one person mentioned about it may be a hoax so i checked it on the internet and i found your letter, i would like to thank you for this entry and i have notified the customer it came from. My collegues and myself find this very distrubing as some one who is realy ill may lose out on this in the future.

Simon Murphy (6.12.04 13:23) Received a request for John Craggs today forwarded by my brother from his company. I know this was done in good faith as we lost a sister to cancer some years ago so would never participate in a hoax of this type. The address has now "moved" to 322 Shelby Road Charlton Surrey CB2 1LC - another fictitious post code and Charlton is halfway across London from Carshalton. All the companies on the list I was sent are national organisations so I am sure they are acting with the best of intentions - as others have said it's shame this effort and goodwill is being diverted away from genuine charities.

Arianne Cross (7.12.04 04:52) Thanks for entering this on to your site. I had a gut feeling which led me to see what I could find on the internet, some of the dates on the photocopies I had received went back a few months and if he was terminally ill, well, the request could have been too late. I am on the Gold Coast, Australia and the current name and address on the letter I received is John Craggs, 332 Selby Road, Surrey England SB21LC.

Maia Riley / Website (8.12.04 18:04) Dear Councillor Bruce, The John Cragg letter s are still going strong - the address this time being 32 Selby Rd, Charlton, Surrey, SM12 1LC. I work for the Spar Group and I recieved it from one of my suppliers with over 220 other companies names on the list! I will forward a copy of this website to the lady I recieved the letter from.

allison mc givern (10.12.04 17:30) I too along with many others received this letter. Believe it or not this chain letter has reached Port Glasgow and Greenock (Scotland )

John Allan (14.12.04 10:15) Received in HOBART TASMANIA as John Craggs - 331 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey, England SB2 1LC.

william hartley / Website (16.12.04 17:09) ohn Craig letter has today reached me in a Teesside NHS clinicand seems to have been doung the rounds of north yorkshire.

rob catherall (5.1.05 23:49) Received the letter just prior to Xmas here in Melbourne Aust. Have seen variants before so checked and found your website. Well done. Seems that the address details are incorrect. Isn't mail being returned? I'll advise my sender to notify their contacts.

Jo Hudson (27.1.05 04:15) This hoax is far and wide. I'm writing from Sydney, Australia where our company was almost duped. The only reason we weren't was that I searched the web in the hope of finding some positive information about "John" before I wrote to him. Unfortunately 200 companies joined this "cause" in good faith before it got to us. I don't have the heart to tell them what a waste of time & effort they have made. An act of a truly vile human being who deserves fitting punishment. Thanks for the warning - we have never heard of this here before! Jo

Cobina Crawford / Website (28.1.05 05:00) Yep. Our Company in Melbourne copped it too. We do PR work for trade unions, and it's gone right across the movement. *raises glass to google*

Adrian Hearsey (28.1.05 16:42) Reading,bershire.uk.....Will this letter ever stop as we've had it and fell for it...Trouble is, it did ring bell's but it was years ago so thought real !!

Judy Wilkinson-Reed (31.1.05 01:23) Now it's in Tasmania - remembered the "story" from a newspaper article last year some time. Have contacted the organisation who sent it to us and hopefully they will advise all the companies they sent it to.

Carrie Winfield (1.2.05 16:36) I cant beleive how somebody can be so cruel. I was among the many people who fell for this and spent an afternoon at work sending off letters to other companies

Jenni Tompsett (2.2.05 11:59) My Company received a forwarded letter this morning detailing John Craggs, seven year old terminal cancer sufferers request for compliments slips along with 15 other letters from various Motor Dealers countrywide who had fallen for this cruel hoax. I was suspicious and on searching the web found this page and have now put the letters in the bin. On reading this page, I am horrified to discover the lengths and depths some people will go to dupe kind hearted people. What possible enjoyment do they get out of doing this?

Kae Bright Gold Coast Austrail (13.2.05 01:08) This letter in the lates version has just been handed on to me via some of the bigger hotels in Australia

Rachael (16.2.05 00:00) The John Craggs letter just landed on my desk....but thankfully a quick google search found me on this page, saving me a fair bit of time and effort! It is well and truly doing the rounds of Sydney. Pity more people don't google (or maybe its good that the world isn't as cynical as I must be!!)

Cathryn (16.2.05 15:57) I received a copy of the letter yesterday. The name of the boy changes from time to time in different letters. I found the following on the net today: - Craig Shergold is real and in 1989 when he was 9-years old, a campaign was started on his behalf to try to break the Guinness world record for greeting cards. The Make-A-Wish Foundation had nothing to do with it, however, and Craig is now a 22-year old young man who is alive and well. The story began in 1988 when Craig first complained of earaches. Antibiotics didn't help and one day when his condition seemed desperate, Craig was taken to a hospital for tests, which revealed a brain tumor. He was so ill his parents were warned he might not survive. Surgery removed the tumor, but it kept growing and the outlook was not good. When the staff at Royal Marsden Hospital in London saw how much get-well cards cheered it up, it was suggested that a card project be started to break the Guinness world record. The London office of the Children's Wish Foundation (not Make-a-Wish) got on board and the British press gave visibility to the story. The old Guinness mark was slightly more than a million cards. That record was broken by Craig within a few months, but the cards kept coming. Then along the way, the rumor said he wanted business cards, not greeting cards. The mail load got so heavy that Craig's family ultimately halted mail delivery to their home and chose to move to a different residence. Now, Craig's old address has its own postal code and more than 350 million pieces of mail have been received. Volunteers remove the stamps, which are sold, and the mail is then recycled, with the proceeds going to cancer research. The folks at Guinness have retired the greeting card category. Although Craig and his family became overwhelmed by the volume of mail, they ultimately became grateful for one aspect of the visibility. Word of Craig's condition reached Virginia billionaire John Kluge, chairman of Metromedia. He arranged for Craig to be flown to the U.S. for life-saving surgery at the University of Virginia Medical Center. A PAX-TV movie about Craig was the result of producer Robert Woods having received the rumor and sending a card to Craig. Through that, he learned that Craig was no longer a little boy, but a healthy young man and the story struck him as a good one for the screen. He and the family have hopes that the film will help quiet the rumor.

Christine (23.2.05 06:07) Hi This is Christine from Australia. I actually just received this one for the first time, under the name John Gradss. It's sad what some people waste their time on....

Chris (2.3.05 04:13) Managed to pull them out of the mail tub before it got sent out. I thought i would google it thinking for sure that if it was real, there'd be some publicity on it. I'm really glad that i wasn't the only one duped though (sorry!)

Chris (2.3.05 04:33) ^^ By the way, the name i recieved was John Graggs.

Larry JW (2.3.05 09:26) Just received a request from one of our customers. The name this time is John Craggs. They have sent out 10 requests. Don't these people ever think before they act? What is the internet for? The hoax comes up at the top of any search, but I feel really sorry for the poor devil who is constantly receiving all this mail. It is not as if he can make anything out of it! If you do get a request, make sure you go back to the company concerned and TELL THEM, at least this may stem the flow a bit!

chris (4.3.05 06:00) Yeah i rang the company who sent it to me and the girl was laughing so hard she was crying! she couldn't believe it. I'm in melbourne, Australia by the way. x

Mark (4.3.05 12:38) I have just received notification from colleagues that indeed this a scam/fraud/prank.The address at this point in time is as follows John Craggs Selby Road Charlton Surrey SM2 1LC

simon (7.3.05 17:02) We received a letter requesting comp slips on friday 4th March from a customer.Just before sending anything i had a quick look on the web. This site came up first. Good thing. Does this poor lad still get all this crap through his door. My god, you wouldn't want to buy that house!!

laura (14.3.05 05:34) Unfortunately i fell for it. I read the letter, and because it came of one of our respected clients, i did what it told me to do. Only now checking the internet to see if the boy got into the world book, and found it to be incorrect. If any of the companies look onto this site to see if it is correct, i do apologise.

laura (14.3.05 05:35) ^^^^im in sydney australia^^^^

Carmel (17.3.05 01:47) Hi there, I arrived at this site via Google. A version of the John Craggs letter is doing the rounds of welfare agencies in Victoria. 322 Selby Road, Charlton Surrey, England SB21LC

Belinda from Cairns, QLD Austr / Website (17.3.05 07:07) I googled before I was duped, thank goodness. It has succesfully reached Cairns & is making it's way around!

Christine Robinson (18.3.05 00:51) Hi, This is now going strong in Queensland, Australia. Thankyou for posting the warning on the web site. I have been sent a list of 300 organisations who have been contacted since August.

Tracee Taylor (18.3.05 04:21) This scam is also currently circulating throughout Wollongong, NSW Australia. Looks as though many professional organisations and government agenices have been caught. Thank goodness for google!

Alina / Website (21.3.05 22:17) Hello! We have received this on the Central Coast of NSW. Unfortunately we have sent out various slips from neighbouring companies, as well as a well wishing card and some stickers! If this person is still collecting these they would have made it into the Guinness Book of Records for sure! Cheers!

Jan (23.3.05 05:42) Received this in Brisbane, Queensland, Australian and checked the website first - thank you. The name and address I received were John Gradss, 322 Selby Road, Charlton Street, SURREY. I discovered the hoax when I tried to check the address on the internet.

Shann (30.3.05 01:51) Hi I received the chain letter at work this morning 30th March 2005 from a business associate. Was amazed to see that so many local businesses were willing to support the cause.. Pity that its a hoax..Because there are many many people out there who could do with support in difficult times... Cheers Shann.

Arthur (31.3.05 13:53) Received this in Brisbane, Queensland, Australian and thought it sounded funny so I checked google and found your website. The name and address I received were John Gragss, 322 Selby Road, Charlton Street, SURREY. Its a shame that there are people out there wasting others time...If only it could be channelled into doing good...

Luisa (6.4.05 12:46) We received this hoax on 4th April for JOHN CRAGGS, 322 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey CB2 1LC. I had my suspicions regarding the Cambridge postal code for the Surrey county. What a pointless hoax to play on people with a good nature when there are genuine causes to contribute to.

Office Worker (12.4.05 11:11) We have received this letter today 12/04/05. The name on the letter and information are now as follows; John Gregg - 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey, SB12 1LC.

Rick Smith (15.4.05 08:58) Many thanks for the alert from Rick Smith, MACKAY, Queensland, Australia. I only checked out the name (John Graggs)on the 'web' because the address on the letter I received was: 322 Shelby Road Charton Street Surry SB ILC England UK Clearly the address was corrupted,i thought possibly by a series of transfers. I think probably even more amazing is the number of businesses and other organisations which are prepared to forward the letter without bothering to see that it would actually arrive at correct address. Thanks again, Rick.

Laura Knight (21.4.05 09:55) I received a letter this morning with the name John Gregg of 332 Selby Road Charlton London SE12 1LC. I thought it to be a bit strange so looked up on the web and found this. Can't believe that people are actually falling for this.

Jane Cox (21.4.05 17:50) Letter dated 12th April 2005 received. Address as John Gregg of 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey, SB12 1LC. Thanks for the warnings.

christina (26.4.05 00:41) This hoax letter is now circulating Sydney legal and professional firms with about 20 attached letters confirming disbursement to 10 firms each. I did a quick google search as the letter sounded suspicious and thought if there was any validity behind it, then there would be web coverage.Unfortunately my gut feel was spot on......... will send this website to those that sent the letter to me.

POSTIE CHARLTON, LONDON, S.E.7 (30.4.05 17:00) I JUST KNEW THERE WAS SOMTHING DODGY GOING ON HERE. I WORK AT THE ROYAL MAIL SORTING OFFICE IN CHARLTON SE7 WHERE THOUSANDS OF THESE LETTERS END UP. ITS BEING GOING ON FOR YEARS AND I JUST COULD'NT UNDERSTAND HOW SO MANY PEOPLE COULD BE SENDING SOMTHING TO THE WRONG ADDRESS. IT WAS ONLY WHEN I TYPED THE NAME "JOHN CRAGGS" INTO GOOGLE THAT I FOUND THIS WEB SITE.IM GOING TO PRINT THIS PAGE AND PUT IT ON OUR MISSORT BAY. IT MAY NOT PUT AN END TO THE LETTERS BUT AT LEAST IT'L SOVLE THE MYSTERY.

Office Administrator, Kingston (4.5.05 14:07) This malicious hoax has now returned from Sydney! Address now corrupted to John GRAGGS, 322 Selby Road, CHARLETON STREET(!), Surrey SB2 1LC. Our version seems to have originated from the Ozzy construction industry. There was a similar one about fifteen years ago which involved collecting bar codes. HELP STAMP IT OUT!

Another one (5.5.05 11:31) Now in the Newcastle and Northumberland area

Chris / Website (6.5.05 12:19) Another one here in Nottingham circulating around construction and property companies, thought I saw this a few years ago. Put it in the bin and made the originator aware

Michelle / Website (10.5.05 01:31) Just turned up on my desk at Melbourne Uni. Its awful to see how many good people have been duped just looking at the list that accompanied it. I'll notify the company that I got it from and hopefully this message will go back down the line. Its a shame with so many people trying to help others that this kind of thing exists. Its in my bin already.

jayne (11.5.05 07:09) hi, i'm from australia and we have a letter here about a john graggs who is a 7yo from uk tyring for the guiness worl records (he has terminal cancer) and to get in needs a record amount of "with compliant slips" can someone please answer this to this email info@cdautos.com. and let me know if this is real or not? there are so many now it's hard to tell if it's ture or not but at the same time i'd be tempted to do it anyway just in case it is real i mean the kid is only 7 and will die i'd hate to think that just to save myself the hassel i've deprived dying kid of achieving something that would mean a lot to them.

jayne (11.5.05 07:20) just for the record mister councillor i think it's quite cruel to label the people who reply to this letter as gulliable nor should they feel embarrest or ashamed that they answered to such a plea in fact i think it just goes to show that in the world we have today there are still well meaning and kind hearted people and it's good to for people in other countries to realize this about each other too. also we don't really know if what your telling us is real either since this is the only site i've been able to find so far that even mentions this as a cruel chain letter. since i can neither contact you or this supposed child i wonder which i should trust!

jayne (11.5.05 07:32) just for the record mister councillor i think it's quite cruel to label the people who reply to this letter as gulliable nor should they feel embarrest or ashamed that they answered to such a plea in fact i think it just goes to show that in the world we have today there are still well meaning and kind hearted people and it's good to for people in other countries to realize this about each other too. also we don't really know if what your telling us is real either since this is the only site i've been able to find so far that even mentions this as a cruel chain letter. since i can neither contact you or this supposed child i wonder which i should trust!

Zoe (11.5.05 12:04) Sick, Sick, Sick, he has now appeared as John Gregg, 332 Selby Road, Harlton, Surrey, S12 1LC. Lets hope this scumbag gets a bit of Karma. Thank you for your website you have stopped me from sending this on and i only wish that the people who already sent it had seen this too.

paul (12.5.05 16:31) Seems to me the only world record he is going to get is the oldest 7 year old boy in the world!

John (15.5.05 08:41) I have just received this letter and was preparing to pass it on when I decided to check google. My letter came via a University who I will now inform about the scam. Who benefits from this (apart from the Royal Mail)

Yolanda (16.5.05 01:13) Yolanda, Bayswater, Australia Just received a letter for John Grags of 322 Selby Road, Charton Street, Surrey SB2, 1LC England. 16 May 2005

Greg / Website (18.5.05 02:41) This is is still doing the rounds in Melbourne. Have now binned it.

Kelly, Basildon, Essex (18.5.05 15:20) Just recieved letter from a company we work closely with. Attached are over 20 lists each containing 10 more companies that the letter has been forwarded to. I have informed the company who sent to us. Again the name used is John Gregg of 332 Selby Rd, Harlton, Surrey, S12 1LC. The postcode made me suspicious.

Jane (24.5.05 11:36) Circulating from very august organisations who should check it out before sending it to their suppliers. This one is for Joh Craggs 322 Selby Road. Poor people who live at that address.

Catherine / Website (2.6.05 14:58) Received the letter today in Manchester from a Leeds based supplier. Had not seen it before, but simply looking up Selby Rd Charlton. on UK pages of Google & there I found this page. Have informed my supplier, there were over 10 pages. I damn well hate chain letters. (Postcode now SM2 2LC)

Vanessa (3.6.05 05:21) Just got it today. In Sydney Australia.

Brent (8.6.05 07:17) we received it today from a company. brisbane australia

Vicki (9.6.05 05:29) Doing the rounds in Perth, Western Australia too. Filed it in the "round filing cabinet under my desk" Can't believe people still fall for it!

Steve (10.6.05 12:31) I checked this out two years ago when I first received one at work and found it to be a perpetual, non-stop myth. Although the original idea may have been well intentioned at the time, wherever it originated, it seems that this thing goes on and on. I have just received another one this morning at my new place of work for John Gregg, 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey. There are only three certainties in life, death, taxes and the John Gregg letter!! Please - someone stop this thing!!

Carol (15.6.05 09:21) Received today as John Gregg, 33 Selby Road, Harlton, Surrey, S12 1LC

Tina (21.6.05 01:53) Received today in FNQ, Australia The name has now changed to John Gragass, and the address is starting to skew, but it's the same letter.

Gemma (21.6.05 14:18) Received letter today in Derbyshire. Address is John Gregg, 332 Selby Road Charlton, Surrey SB12 1LC.

Pb (24.6.05 01:39) Just received the letter in Adelaide, Australia. Name on it is: Jason Cragg 331 Selby Road Charlton Surrey UK SB1LC.

Hannah Triggs / Website (24.6.05 12:58) Have just recieved a letter with 130 company names listed. The name on it is : John Gregg 332 Selby Road halton Surrey S12 1LC

Hannah Triggs / Website (24.6.05 12:59) Have just recieved a letter with 130 company names listed. The name on it is : John Gregg 332 Selby Road halton Surrey S12 1LC

lynn Wright (29.6.05 12:09) MY ADDRESS SHOWS 332 SHELBY RD HARLETON SURREY. I CAN'T BELIEVE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THIS HAS AFFECTED.

Claire Brady (30.6.05 04:52) We have recieved this in Perth, Australia from a very reputable client - As a Brit & knowing a bit about British geography the address we had is somewhat confusing: - John Gragss, 322 Selby Road, Charlton Street, Surrey, SB2 1LC so we googled it and came up with this site. Thanks - also glad to know the original John Craig / Craig Shergold is well

Ruth (1.7.05 15:24) This has arrived my desk and I had a feeling it was a hoax. It is indeed very, very cruel and has wasted a good amount of my time today!

Amelia (7.7.05 13:56) Still doing the rounds in NE England as John Craggs, 332 Selbey Road, Charlton, Surrey, SB12 1LC. I thought that I would google the boy's name to find out what publicity there was for this. I am glad that I did and will contact the organisation who sent this letter to me to try to stop their other contacts from responding to this.

Janey (11.7.05 10:11) I received it this morning from a local company in Worcestershire - the address is gradually getting more distorted.

Carmel (13.7.05 05:17) A variation on the theme is circulating in the Education area in West Australia. Name used is John Craggs with a Montessori school at a PO Box in Mosman Park. Not able to confirm with the school due to it being holidays at present. Privacy laws do not allow the PO to confirm the address. Draw your own conclusions.

Dan Cool / Website (13.7.05 08:27) Cool site you have here. thanks a lot

Monique / Website (18.7.05 15:26) Sorry , but yet another name change. Received the letter a couple of days ago and thought it strange that cancer seemed to affect only boys of 7 and in the surrey area!! As have seen this letter quiet a few times. The name now is John Clegg. Thanks to your site I was able to save my and other company's time. I would rather give the money that it costs to reproduce and post this letter to genuine cancer victims.

Amanda - Canberra Australia (25.7.05 05:41) Just received this request this morning... Name Jason Craggs, 331 Selby Road, Charlton Surrey UK SB1LC. Looks like many have been affected...

Shelley (26.7.05 11:12) Just received this too, contact John Craig, address 37 Shelby Road, Carshalton AM15 1LD. thought it was a hoax as the postcode looked odd so checked it out, glad I did.

Sarah (26.7.05 15:39) I received a letter from a neighbouring business with many attachments of other businesses who have sent off comp slips. I was just about to send one to John Gregg but decided to check it out on the web. I cam across this website and then checked on Royal mail website. The address of 332 Selby Road, SM5 1LC doesn't even exist!