Magic Cheese

Scam, or beauty product? France looks into "magic cheese" case in South America.

France is investigating what it says is a scam mounted by a French woman who sold thousands of Chileans kits to make "magic cheese" for French beauty products, an official said on Tuesday.

Gilberte Van Erpe, who was arrested and placed under investigation in France last year, is suspected of setting up a vast pyramid scheme, telling buyers the fermented mass produced by the kits could be sold to cosmetics companies in France.

A French investigator, examining magistrate Sylvie Gagnard, will fly to Chile to register the lawsuits of thousands of people who claim they were victimized, said Isabelle Montagne, a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office.

"We call it the 'case of the magic cheese'," Montagne said.

Note: Do not confuse Magic Cheese with Magic Cheese Chips -- which is a legitimate business that requires no experience.

(Thanks Oolon)