Make A Wish Fraud Alert - Solicitation Scam Phishing Chain Letters

Make-A-Wish Foundation Does Not Participate In Chain Letter Or Other Direct Solicitation Wishes

Each day, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America and chapters receive hundreds of inquiries regarding chain letters claiming to be associated with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. As a matter of policy, the Make-A-Wish Foundation does not conduct these types of wishes – including Internet and e-mail requests. Below are the chain letters currently circulating around the world.

If you receive a chain letter...
	Please reply to the sender and inform him or her that the Make-A-Wish Foundation does not participate in these kinds of wishes.
	Refer the sender and all recipients to this page.
	Please do not forward the chain letter.

Amy Bruce

This Internet-based chain letter claims that a 7-year-old girl named Amy Bruce, who is suffering from a brain tumor and lung cancer, will receive 7 cents from the Make-A-Wish Foundation each time her letter is forwarded via e-mail.

This request is false, and the Foundation has contacted the originator’s Internet service provider to pursue the matter.

Variations of this letter featuring the names Jeff DeLeon, Rhyan Desquetado, LaNisha Jackson, Nikisha Johnson, Jessie Anderson, Kayla Wightman, Ralph Gonzalez, and Chad Briody have also been circulating and are not legitimate.

Craig Shergold, Craig Sheldon, Craig Sheppard, Craig Shelton, and Craig Shelford


In 1989, a then 9-year-old boy named Craig Shergold wanted to be recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records for receiving the most greeting cards. His wish was fulfilled by another wish-granting organization not associated with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

His wish was fulfilled in 1990 after receiving more than 16 million cards. Craig is now a healthy college student, and he has requested an end to the mail. Mail that is received is forwarded to a recycling center.

Anthoney Hebrank

This chain e-mail claims that Anthoney Hebrank, a sick 9-year-old boy from Garland, Texas, has requested Christmas cards from around the country and that the Make-A-Wish Foundation is allegedly involved.

This claim is false. The Make-A-Wish Foundation has no connection whatsoever to any such supposed request. In fact, our North Texas chapter (in whose territory Garland, Texas, is located) has confirmed that they do not have, nor have they had, a wish child named Anthoney Hebrank.

The chain letters may contain a combination of any of the above names, and the requests may be for business cards or greeting cards.

The time and expense required to respond to these inquiries distracts the Foundation from its efforts on behalf of children with life-threatening medical conditions, and more importantly, divulges information that is potentially harmful to a child and his or her family.