THE FREE PRESS NEWS MARCH 2001 Pyramid scheme aims at women By CHERYL JAHN Free Press staff writer A Prince George woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, says her mother was approached to join the Women Helping Women gift exchange. All she had to do was pay $5,000 to be part of the "team” which meets each week at a different location. As part of the team, she had to recruit others. She cautioned her mother not to join. And with good reason. It’s a pyramid scheme well known to police. “The common theme is a group of people get together at some location - a house, a hotel, a ballroom - put money into the plan and recruit other people,” explains Corporal Sandy Smith of the RCMP’s Commercial Crime Unit. That is the basic principle behind all such schemes: The top person reaps the rewards, as others go out and recruit. But eventually the whole thing crumbles, as recruitment gets tougher and tougher. “The meeting place changes week to week,” explains the Prince George woman, “The people running this scheme tell us to check this out with a lawyer or a judge, but not a policeman.” Corporal Smith adds there is a legitimate Women Helping Women program in the United States. But they are far different from what has found its way to Prince George. “The ones on the internet, that we found, are much the same as the local E. Fry Society, set up as a non-profit charitable organization to help out other women, whether it be in obtaining employment, babysitting and that sort of thing. This program here has nothing to do with that.” And, he stresses, pyramid schemes are illegal - recruiting, participating or having anything to do with pyramid schemes. It is also illegal under the Competition Act. However, those involved are not often prosecuted. “One of the main reasons is that most of the people that become in a pyramid scheme are not criminals by nature. They don't have criminal records, they believe that it works, or some of them believe it works. Consequently, we don’t charge these people. Usually we warn them, point out to them that it is illegal and that the program will not work in the end. There are people at the top of the pyramid who set it up, getting it going. They know it’s illegal, they know that it won’t work. Those are the people we try to go after, but it’s often quite difficult to identify them and to find them.” Impressive! New 300g size $A A.95 COME HOME TO THE HAIR HOUSE Product satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Spring/Ready 4 Spruce City Accounting ye5, lt s That Time Of Vear AgaM IHi The Government expects rath of us to dole out our hard earned money for them to waste. We at Spruce City Accounting ~ will do our best to help you to keep the majority of your money. Does this remind you of You when the Tax Man comes? ? ? We hear you. Come see us.' We specialize in I'ersonjl/lndividual, Small Business and Corporate Income Taxes Our Rates are Reasonable anil our coffee is always on! 61 2-3846 Special Rate for Seniors 623 Cieorge St. Prince George, BC V2L 1R9 Fax: 612-3845 Recent snowmelt has left plants, animals and people thinking of spring. John mckenzie/free press ncnRV 0VER10AD son SUE NO DOWNPAYMENT! NO INTEREST UP TO THE YEAR 2003... We Order Custom Made. Many Styles & Fabrics to Choose From\ 2 pee. sofa love seat set r matching chair $599" Italian style 2 pee. sofa love seat set Reg. $1199 2 pee. sofa love seat set save $400 £achoosVees & fabrics Lounge Chairs starting at The majority ol our members are Business Owners, Trades People, Managers, and Professionals (Nurses, Bankers, Counselors, Teachers, etc.). We also have Secretarial, Clerical, Students, Single Parents, and Retired Members Call Kathy at 962-7763 www.pgmatchmakers.com 9? Prince $£Wf|e Matchmakers Who joins a Dating Service? People with Busy Schedules who are not into the BAR SCENE "... people like you! OPEN LATE Thun. & Fri. Sun. 11 - 5pm Spruceland Shopping Centre 564-8970 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK MON-THURS 9-6, FRI9-9, SAT9-6, SUN 11-4 FACTORY DIRECT FURNITURE 15th Avenue (Next to ICBC) 564-7FDF (7333) I EU£3 13