I feel sorry for people who believe in anything. Thieves can be pretty convincing, and they’re getting sneakier and more brazen each day. Sometimes, all it takes is the promise of riches and wealth and snap! – the innocent are convinced.

Take those guys in Chile back in 2008 who were promised fortunes for making cheese.

74-year old Gilberte van Erpe sold a “near-worthless powder as a costly domestic cheese-making kit” and promised buyers huge returns when their “cheese” was sold on for use in beauty products back in France at a much higher price.

It worked for a while, believe it or not (the scam, not the cheese).

The victims were initially paid the dividends they had been promised, and the early success prompted them to invest larger amounts.

Sadly, many people encouraged their friends and family to sign up – hundreds “cashed in their savings, sold homes and property, or gave up jobs to concentrate on “cheese-making” full-time”.

The scam attracted some 5,500 people in Chile, each investing amounts between €400 and €168,000.

Van Erpe, or Ms Gil, has finally gone on trial in France as she could not be extradited to Chile.

Surely any self-respecting individual should know that putting cheese on your face…

Sigh.

[Source: The BBC]