The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THERE IS A GAME OR "SCAM", WHICH IS ILLEGAL,
THAT IS TRAVELING THROUGH THE METROPOLITAN
DETROIT AREA. IT IS SOMETIMES CALLED THE
"AIRPLANE PYRAMID SCAM". IT WORKS, AS FOLLOWS:
15 INVESTORS TRY TO FILL AN IMAGINARY AIRPLANE.
EACH INVESTOR PAYS $1,500 TO THE PILOT TO GET
A "SEAT" ON THE PLANE. ONCE A PLANE IS FULL, THE
PILOT CAN "FLY" WITH $12,000.
THE PLAYERS INCLUDE:
THE PILOT
2 CO-PILOTS
4 CREW MEMBERS
8 PASSENGERS.
STEP 1: THE PILOT, CO-PILOTS AND CREW MEMBERS
RECRUIT EIGHT PASSENGERS WHO PAY $1,500 FOR A
SEAT ON THE PLANE.
STEP 2: WHEN THE EIGHT SEATS ARE SOLD, THE
PILOT COLLECTS $1,500 FROM EACH PASSENGER
AND LEAVES WITH THE MONEY.
STEP 3: THE PLANE SPLITS IN TWO, AND THE
TWO CO-PILOTS OF THE ORIGINAL PLANE BECOME
THE PILOTS OF THE NEW PLANES. EACH PILOT
AND CREW RECRUITS EIGHT PASSENGERS FOR EACH OF
THE NEW PLANES.

Submitter comment: THIS IS AN ILLEGAL GAME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT