Woman on trial for ‘magic cheese’ scam

PARIS: A Frenchwoman went on trial Monday accused of conning thousands of Chileans into buying a kit to make “magic cheese” they could sell back to French cosmetics companies for use in luxury beauty products.
Gilberte Van Erpe, 74, allegedly told her victims the prized ingredient was even used in creams favored by celebrities such as Michael Jackson, but the goop was worthless and the scam became one of the biggest pyramid schemes ever seen in South America.
The “case of the magic cheese,” as it is known in France, began in 2005 when the businesswoman dubbed “Madame Gil” held conferences around Chile urging people to become home producers of the fermented product.
Her company, Fermex Chile, had some 20 branches around Chile.
For 369 euros ($413) investors could buy a kit containing filters and a special powder which when mixed with milk and fermented, produced a small cheese pat they were told was highly sought after by the cosmetics industry.