Chile 'magic cheese scam' woman goes on trial in France

In France a woman has gone on trial for operating a scam in which thousands of Chileans paid millions of euros to produce a supposedly "magic cheese" for the cosmetics industry. Gilberte van Erpe, 74, is accused of selling a near-worthless powder as a costly domestic cheese-making kit.

The buyers were told that the fermented product they made in their homes could be sold to the French cosmetics industry at a much higher price. The victims were initially paid the dividends they had been promised, and the early success prompted them to invest larger amounts.
Many encouraged their friends and family to sign up. However, the div

idend payments soon stopped.